Link to China provides impetus for Polish ship classification revival

Link to China provides impetus for Polish ship classification revival A revival of interest in the services of the Polish Register of Shipping has led the organization to open a branch office in Shanghai.
   The PRS said Monday it will class more than 20 newbuildings recently ordered in China and, along with the Shanghai office, will also send Polish surveyors to the shipyards where the vessels are being built.
   PRS said it is also developing its relationship with the China Classification Society, having earlier this year signed a cooperation agreement in China for implementing a Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Co. (Chipolbrok) newbuilding project and hosting a CCS delegation in Gdansk.
   Chipolbrok's order with the COSCO Dalian Shipyard for six multipurpose/heavy-lift vessels is a key factor in the cooperation between PRS and CCS. Reflecting the fact that Chipolbrok is a 50-50 partnership between the China Ministry of Communications and Poland's Ministry of Economics, three of these vessels are being built to PRS class while the other three will be built to CCS class. They are due for delivery from 2009 to 2010.
   Other work for PRS is coming from the Szczecin-based Polish Steamship Company (Polsteam), which has ordered 18 bulk carriers in China. Four 80,000 dwt Panamax vessels contracted with New Times Shipbuilding Co. in Jing Jiang for delivery in 2010-2011 will be classed by PRS together with Lloyd's Register, as will eight 37,000 dwt handysize bulkers ordered from Xingang Tianjin Shipyard for delivery in 2008-2010. Six 30,000 dwt bulk carriers, termed Lakers as they are designed for operation on the Great Lakes, are also being built for Polsteam in China to PRS and Det Norske Veritas class — four by Yangzhou Guoyu Shipyard for delivery in 2008-2009 and two by Nantong Mingde Shipyard for delivery in 2009.