Classification

The act of granting a Cla , or Character to a ve el by a Cla ification Society. Note. The following Tables show the Titles of the Gla if i cation Societies at present in operation, with the Characters used by each of them. — It should be observed that the order in which the different Societies are ranged acro the page, is not meant to indicate any preference for one above another; nor* is it to be understood, that the Characters on the same line used by either of them have equal value as guarantees of the condition of a ve el, when cla ed.. Not#: The figure 1 attached to the Characters employed by Lloyd’s Register, also the hindmost 1 affixed to the Characters used by the Bureau Veritas, bear no reference to the cla ification of the hull; but indicate that the equipment viz*: anchors, chain-cables, rigging, machinery etc., is in good condition, and in accordance with the Rules of the Society; when such is not the case, another symbol, for instance a dash is used in its place. In Lloyd’s Register Book some iron ve els are found cla ed these are Characters given to ve els built before the present Characters were adopted, viz*: from 1864-1871, and the characters A 1A 1*, A 1, A 1, A, A, also met with in the said Book are such as were employed by the late „ Liverpool Underwriters Registry ”, now amalgamated with Lloyd’s Register; but no other Characters than those given in the above Tables are at present employed in cla ing so called sea-going ships. Each of the Societies named has its own Rules and Regulations, in accordance with which ve els are built, surveyed and cla ed; some of them however up to date have no Rules for iron and steel ships. It would be beyond the scope of this work to enter into particulars of all the Societies, the Author therefore confines his attention to the mode of cla ing, surveying etc. by the well known Institution with which he has been closely connected for so many years viz1: 4, Lloyd's Register ”. WOODEN VESSELS. As shown in the Tables, wooden ve els are ranged under three Cla es, com pri ing lour Divisions. 1st Cla . — 1st Division; (A), consists of new ships, or those continued and restored, which are found qualified to carry cargoes of any description to and from any ports on the globe. 1st Cla . — 2nd Division (A); comprises ve els also considered still fit for the same purpose, but having pa ed their first prime, are not quite equal to those before mentioned. 2nd Cla . — 3rd Division (AS); are ve els considered fit for the conveyance of goods of any kind on short voyages only. 3rd Cla . — 4th Division (E); these ve els are considered fit to carry coals, timber, petroleum and other cargoes not liable to get damaged by sea water.