The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is a technically based non-governmental organization that currently consists of eleven member marine classification societies. More than 90% of the world's cargo-carrying ships’ tonnage is covered by the classification standards set by member societies of IACS. Marine classification is a system for promoting the safety of life, property and the environment primarily through the establishment and verification of compliance with technical and engineering standards for the design, construction and life-cycle maintenance of ships, offshore units and other marine-related facilities. These standards are contained in rules established by each Society. IACS provides a forum within which the member societies can discuss, research, and adopt technical criteria that enhance maritime safety. History IACS traces its origins to the recommendations of the International Load Line Convention of 1930. The convention recommended collaboration between classification societies to secure "as much uniformity as possible in the application of the standards of strength upon which freeboard is based...". Following the Convention, Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) hosted the first conference of major societies in 1939 - attended by ABS, BV, DNV, GL, LR and NK - which agreed on further cooperation between the societies. A second major class society conference, held in 1955, led to the creation of working parties on specific topics and, in 1968, to the formation of IACS by seven leading societies. IACS was founded on September 11, 1968, in Hamburg, Germany and its headquarters are currently in London. In 1969, IACS was given consultative status by the IMO. Its membership has increased since that time to twelve. DNV and Germanischer Lloyd merged in 2013; the new entity was called DNV-GL but changed to DNV in 2021. Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, IACS withdrew the membership of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) on March 11 2022. The RMRS attracted support from only 25% of members in the vote to expel it. IACS numbered 11 members that accounted more than 90% of global tonnage. Purpose Although IACS is a non-governmental organization, it also plays a role within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), for which IACS provides technical support and guidance and develops unified interpretations of the international statutory regulations developed by the member states of the IMO. Once adopted, these interpretations are applied by each IACS member society, when certifying compliance with the statutory regulations on behalf of authorizing flag states. IACS has consultative