The nature of the work of classification societies might be described by considering the position of a shipowner who was wanting to order a new ship to fulfil certain requirements as to speed, cargo or passenger carrying capacity, etc. He asked the shipbuilder to submit designs and prices for à vessel to fulfil his requirements, and in order to be sure that his new ship would be satisfactory as regards strength and seaworthiness he might stipulate that it had to be built to the requirements and under the survey of one of the leading classification societies who, it would be understood, necessarily have a, very wide and practical experience in such matters.
Moreover, the production of a C: tificate of Classification was defini evidence to third parties, such as insurers of hull or cargo, charters, mortgagees and shareholders, that the vessel was possessed of a recognized standard of strength and seaworthy mess. On the Contract for construction being signed the Shipbuilder proceeded to prepare plans showing in detail the proposed construction of the vessel, her main and auxiliary machinery, electrical and refrigerating appliances, and equipment. These plans and particulars were submitted to the Classification society by whose experts they were carefully examined and, where necessary, amended or corrected in order to satisfy the particular society's standards, The plans, ete. were then approved and returned io the builder. The builder then ordered his steel material to the appróvéd sizes, thickness, etc.
At the shipyard, surveyors were in attendance to supervise the construction of hull from the laying of the keel until the final fitting out was completed, and all parts were checked in order to ensure that they were in accordance with the sizes shown on ability of the shipowner. While the published rules cover normal type and proportions, designers and builders were not discouraged from producing ships of other types and proportions, or special systems of construction.
During the life of the vessel, to entitle her to retain the characters assigned in the Register Book, so long as she remained classed she was subjected to annual and four yearly surveys. In addition to the Periodical Surveys vessels which had sustained damage from any cause had also to be submitted to survey and repairs prescribed and supervised by the Surveyors to the society concerned.
Another function of the classification society in this connection was frequently to act on behalf of underwriters in cases of damage to the hull and machinery of ships, and surveys were carried out and detailed specifications made of repairs necessary to put back the vessel in the same condition as she was before the casualty occurred. Prices and bills were often checked before the case went to the average adjuster. Most people were aware that ocean-going vessels had marks placed on their sides amidships. These marks, known as the load lines, indicated the depth to which the ship might load in different circumstances.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.