Can Ship Sail Without Class Certificate?

Mandatory certificates are essential for the trade and legality of a ship, even if not required by law under the flag. For instance, a Singapore flag vessel may not be required to have COFR but is mandatory for trade in US waters. Ship owners must meet specific requirements set by the flag state to qualify for a Certificate of Registry. These requirements may vary by country but can include the main classes of UK-registered seagoing vessels and outline details of the statutory certificates they must carry.

It is impossible to sail a ship in high seas without valid certificates, and any insurance taken up by the ship owner will be null and void if any certificate is invalid and expired. Classification societies do not issue statements or certifications that a vessel is fit to sail or unfit to sail, merely that the vessel is in compliance with the required codes.

Classification is the development of independent technical standards for ships and the verification of compliance with these standards throughout the ship’s life. A ship intended to sail in international trade must hold a valid class certificate, issued upon verification of its compliance with the rules of a Classification Society. The Certificate of Class is not a statutory certificate; it only provides information on the vessel’s compliance with the rules of a Classification Society.

Ships must carry various certificates and documents on board to operate legally and to trade freely both nationally and internationally. A ship without certificates is a dead ship, and it is impossible to sail a ship in high seas without valid certificates. Statutory certificates with conditions for the intended voyage may be issued, but this is not applicable to vessels whose class was not specified in the certificate.