Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) won approvals from the US Coast Guard as a recognised organisation. IRClass joins a small group of other classification societies allowed to perform inspections on behalf the USCG.
The USCG's Alternate Compliance Program allows outside class societies to perform functions related to the issuance of statutory certificates.
So far, the USCG has approved American Bureau of Shipping, ClassNK, Det Norske Veritas-Germanischer Lloyd (DNV-GL), and Lloyd's Register as recognised organisations under the Alternate Compliance Programme.
IRClass won similar status from the European Union in August 2016.
IRClass executive chairman Arun Sharma said the approval is a "major step forward for IRClass as we strive to join the ranks of truly global classification societies."
"With its stringent monitoring processes and focus on high performance and quality, USCG sets high standard of safety in the global shipping industry," Sharma added.
Separately, IRClass said it won approval from the European Union to perform type approvals for shipboard safety equipment under the EU's Marine Equipment Directive (MarED).
Sharma says IRClass will enable Indian manufacturers to enter the global market for shipboard safety equipment.
