THE ORGANIZATION
BRS (Bulgarian Register of Shipping) was founded as the national Classification Society of Republic of Bulgaria in 1950. The Inspection Offices, in Varna, Bourgas and Rouse provide supervision by BRS in the main shipbuilding and industrial centers and that facilitates fast, professional service for companies in the shipbuilding industry and the navigation.
BRS is a Classification Society for technical supervision and classification of civil ships. Apart from that at the request of the Government and within the range of its competency BRS performs technical supervision for the implementation of the requirements of international conventions, agreements and contracts.
BRS develops technical requirements which provide safe navigation of ships in accordance with their intended purpose, the safety of life at sea and at inland waterways, the safety of the cargo transported; it also carries out technical supervision for the implementation of these requirements as well as performs classification of all ships.
BRS activities on the supervision are performed on the basis of the Rules issued by BRS, and the main purpose of that activity is to ascertain whether the ships and containers, subject to supervision, as well as the materials and products, intended for the construction and repair of ships and ship equipment comply with the Rules and the additional requirements. The implementation and performance of those Rules and additional requirements are the obligation of the designing organizations, shipowners, owners of containers, shipbuilding and shiprepair yards, as well as the enterprises manufacturing materials and products, subject to supervision by BRS.
Go Top
THE QUALITY SYSTEM
The operation of BRS has always been regulated by a set of Instructions covering the basic activities in performing classification services. Apart from that, the Management introduced a formal Quality System in compliance with the requirements of the ISO 9001 Standard.
The basic principles of the implemented Quality System of BRS are as follows:
Adequate qualification and practical experience of Surveyors in the field of operation of ships and offshore facilities.
Objective and unbiased supervision of the technical condition of vessels classed with the BRS.
High technical requirements towards the supervised vessels and offshore facilities as regards their seaworthiness, safety of navigation and friendly operation in the marine environment in compliance with the requirements of the BRS Rules and the International Conventions.
Satisfying customer requirements via establishing a balance between compliance with requirements for ships and Owners’ needs and expectations.
Expanded customer servicing through supply of additional services in quality and safety assurance.
Maintenance of an updated database of vessels subject to supervision, and supply of timely information to interested parties through established lines of communication.
Maintenance of an effective Quality Assurance System in compliance with the requirements of the International ISO 9001 Standard.
Bulgarian Register of Shipping has always complied with the objectives and moral values as stated in its Code of Ethics. The primary goals are to ensure safety at sea and environmental protection. BRS has succeeded in accomplishing these through constant strife to improve its services and application of all relevant international regulations.
Go Top
CLASSIFICATION SERVICES
BRS develops its own technical requirements in line with the stipulations of International Conventions, which provide safe navigation of ships in accordance with their intended purpose, the safety of life at sea and at inland waterways, the safety of the cargo transported and the preservation of marine environment; it also carries out technical supervision for the implementation of these requirements and classification of all ships.
The activities on the supervision are performed with the main
purpose to ascertain whether the ships and containers, subject to supervision, as
well as the materials and products, intended for the construction and repair of
ships and ship equipment, comply with the Rules and any additional requirements.
Development of technical requirements (Rules), ensuring the safe navigation of ships according to their intended use
Performance of technical supervision and classification of ships in accordance with these Rules
Approval of technical documentation for construction and repair of sea-going and inland vessels, drilling platforms and containers
Supervision of the construction and conversion of ships, drilling platforms and containers.
Survey of ships and containers in operation
Supervision during manufacture of materials and products intended for construction and repairs of ships
Approval of industrial Companies, firms and laboratories, which manufacture, repair and test constructions, equipment, materials and products, subject to supervision by BRS.
Since its foundation BRS has supervised the construction of most vessels built in Bulgarian shipyards in Varna, Bourgas and Rouse. Approximately 80 % of the ships of the major Bulgarian shipowner, Navibulgare, are classed with BRS, and up to 90 % of private shipowners in Bulgaria have chosen BRS. Orders for classification in Turkey, Greece, Syria and Israel are also increasing.
Go Top
STATUTORY SERVICE
BRS has an extensive experience in of cooperation with foreign Maritime Administrations covering the field of statutory surveys of ships in accordance with the International Conventions in force.
At present BRS performs statutory surveys on assignment by the following Administrations:
Union of Comoros
Moldova
Vanuatu
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Tanzania Zanzibar
Cook Islands
Barbados
Tuvalu
Mongolia
Dominica
On 1 September, 2005, BRS was approved by the United States Coast Guard as a Classification Society in accordance with the 2004 Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act, Section 413, 46 U.S.C. 3316(c).
In connection with the mandatory application of the requirements of the ISM Code and ISPS Code BRS carries out activities on the certification of Safety and Security Management Systems on the basis of authorizations by the respective Flag Administrations.
A program has been developed for training of BRS Surveyors in the requirements of the ISM Code and the ISPS Code in connection with its obligatory implementation after 1st of July 2004. In response to the increased interest of shipowners and managing companies in recent PSC activities and recognizing its responsibility with respect to class-related deficiencies, BRS makes its best to improve the quality of services from operational aspect.
Go Top
RULES DEVELOPMENT
BRS concluded an agreement with the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and the National Innovation Fund for realization of an unique Project “Development of a technology for inspection and assignment of class to ships, and Internet-based survey monitoring system” for a period of two years.
The realization of this Project was a completely modern and rational approach for development of a full set of new Rules which include all applicable requirements of the international maritime organizations, maintaining of continuous unification of the existing requirements with those of the societies members of IACS, as well as all maritime standards and Codes.
Due to the significant state-of-the-art in shipping, and in order to attain the required objectives of the project, the Technical University - Varna was included in order to develop a totally updated set of rules for the ship's hull (Part I of the Rules) with taking into consideration all new requirements for hull structures.
Paralel with the Rules development, an Internet-based database program for management of all activities in connection with surveys was designed.
Go Top