2.1 The Naval Ship Rules define the criteria for the
design, construction and testing of ships, noting that some aspects
of Naval Ships, such as military capabilities, are not included and
are subject to the control of a Naval Authority, see definition
in the Regulations.
2.2 When a ship is assigned naval class, it implies:
- that LR is satisfied that the vessel meets the Rule requirements
for the class notations assigned.
- that LR, through a system of surveys and recommendations, will
seek to ensure that the requirements stipulated for retention of class
are complied with.
2.3 Naval Class also provides a regular assessment
of the ship’s structural condition, together with formal records
which can be valuable (in the case of damage) in assessing the course
of action for the ship’s future.
2.4 The Rules of LR are based on the main assumption
that the Owner or Navy retain the ultimate responsibility - the “duty
of care” - for the safe maintenance, operation and manning of
their ships.
2.5 The Owner is responsible for ensuring
that all documentation, and complete and correct information, necessary
for the assignment of class, or for the retention of class, is made
available.
2.6 The Builder, and subsequently the Navy, is responsible for ensuring that safe access to the ship
is provided, so that surveys may be carried out in accordance with
the Regulations. The term Builder also applies to anybody
carrying out repairs or their subcontractors.
2.7 The Naval Authority is responsible
for setting standards and verifying through life compliance with that
standard. For an LR-classed ship, LR is the Naval Authority for classification
aspects.
2.8 For each National Navy, an LR office will be nominated
as the naval liaison office which will be responsible for co-ordinating
all aspects of classification for the ships in class with LR. They
will be responsible for liaising with the Navy and co-ordinating survey
work in accordance with the security requirements of the Navy.
2.9 The LR naval liaison office will also be responsible
for advising the relevant Naval Authority and classification committee
of the survey status when there are departures from the normal classification
regime.