How much importance to be given to Class of Ship while chartering a Ship, Pls support your guidance ?

Question

How much importance to be given to Class of Ship while chartering a Ship, Pls support your guidance ?

Answer 1

A ship's class has more to do with its size, design and naming convention, and visual identification then anything else.  Among Merchant ships, almost always, these ships are classed by a "classification society". These vessels are set to be in particular "class" when their hull, structures, machinery, and equipment conform to International Maritime standards.  Vessels "out of class" may be uninsurable and/or not permitted to sail except by and for strict and specific purposes.

An example of this would be if you built one (or had one built) using your own design.  And, its shape, hull features, etc. were so unique, they did not fit into a "class" of ships already built and proven seaworthy. Your vessel would then (if successful) become the leading ship - from and to which - all subsequent vessels would be "Classed".

A vessel's class may include endorsements for the type of cargo such as "passenger" "oil carrier", "bulk carrier", "mixed carrier", even "air craft carrier" etc. It may also include class notations denoting special abilities of the vessel ie: ice class, fire fighting, oil recovery, etc.

So, the importance of a given "Class" of ship, is related to its common use or function, as well as it's design. Once you get to know these "classes" then when you hear of one (as on the radio, for example) you know what the vessel is going to look like when she is in visual range.

Other then for war time and Naval use for enemy ship classification and identification, I really don't know of any real importance... it is kind of like someone telling you your friend is waiting for you at the corner in a Ford pick-up - you know what a Ford pick up looks like - so you know what to look for.  With ships... there are no Fords, Chevys, etc., there are just ships that look like other ships in the same class.  So... if you were told to look for a Nimitz class vessel, you would instantly know what you were looking for... If I said look for the "Elania" you would have no idea what you were looking for... but, if I said look for the "Queen Mary Class, Elania" - you would know your looking for a passenger ship that looks like the Queen Mary, named the Elania.

Can't really support this I just know it from years experience... but, if you google Naval ship classification, you will find the lists... but, like I said, other then ID, and in some cases insurance (insurers like to know what they are insuring) I know of no importance. Other than, if you are "chartering" one - sight unseen - you would want to know that what you are chartering is the kind of ship you need.

Happy & Safe Boating!  

My vessel, by the way, is a "New Orleans" Class... Do you now know what she looks like?  See if this is what you expected...

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