The certification of marine grade aluminium sheet, issued by major global classification societies, serves as a "passport" for marine aluminium sheet to enter the international marine and offshore engineering market. It directly determines whether the material can be used in critical or non-critical areas such as ship structures, superstructures, and equipment supports. Common certificates include CCS, ABS, LR, DNV, BV, KR and RINA.
1. CCS Certification (China Classification Society):
Issued by China Classification Society. China Classification Society is a leading domestic ship inspection and certification organization. It certifies marine aluminum sheet based on standards such as the "Rules for Classification of Sea-Going Steel Ships" and the "Specifications for Aluminum Alloys for Ships and Offshore Engineering." The certification process includes testing of the aluminum sheet's chemical composition, mechanical properties (such as tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation) and weldability. It also audits the marine grade aluminum sheet manufacturer's quality management system and production process control. CCS certification is a fundamental entry point for domestic shipbuilding and is widely recognized in Southeast Asia and countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative. It is widely used in small and medium-sized vessels, inland waterway vessels, and offshore platforms.
2. ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) certification:
Issued by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). ABS is one of the world's leading ship inspection organizations, with a broad scope of services covering a wide range of fields, including shipbuilding, offshore engineering, and pressure vessels. ABS certifies marine grade aluminum plate based on the ABS Offshore Material Specification and other standards, with stringent requirements for low-temperature mechanical properties and fatigue strength. For example, obtaining ABS certification for 5083-O/H111 medium and heavy plate involves testing for composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and fatigue resistance. ABS certification is widely recognized in shipbuilding in North America (the United States and Canada), South America (Brazil and Argentina), and many other regions around the world. It is commonly used in transoceanic container ships, bulk carriers, and structural components of deep-sea oil drilling platforms.
3. LR (Lloyd's Register) certification:
Issued by Lloyd's Register, a British classification society. Lloyd's Register is one of the world's oldest classification societies and holds a high degree of authority and influence. LR certifies marine grade aluminum plates based on the LR Specification for Marine Materials and Welding, emphasizing the reliability of the material throughout its lifecycle. In addition to routine performance testing, LR certification also requires heat treatment process records and batch consistency reports. In the construction of high-end vessels, such as luxury cruise ships and LNG carriers, LR certification is a crucial entry requirement. It enjoys high recognition in Europe (the UK, Germany, and France), the Middle East, Australia, and the global high-end shipbuilding and international shipping markets.
4. DNV certification (Det Norske Veritas):
Issued by Det Norske Veritas, a Norwegian classification society renowned for its stringent technical standards, is widely used in high-end shipbuilding and offshore engineering. DNV certifies marine grade aluminum plates based on DNV-OS-C401 Specification for Marine Engineering Materials, focusing on the material's resistance to marine biocorrosion and weld joint performance. For example, DNV certification of marine aluminum plates such as 5083 and 5059 demonstrates that their corrosion resistance and strength meet internationally advanced standards. DNV certification is highly recognized in Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark), the North Sea region, and the global offshore equipment market, and is commonly used on North Sea oilfield platforms and polar research vessels.
5. BV (Bureau Veritas) certification:
Issued by Bureau Veritas, a leading global authority in shipbuilding and offshore equipment. BV certifies marine aluminum sheeting based on the "BV Specification for Marine and Offshore Materials," emphasizing the environmental compliance of materials and setting clear requirements for their processing and forming properties. BV certification is common in shipbuilding in Europe (France, Spain, and Italy), West Africa, and the Mediterranean, and is commonly used on ferries, offshore fishing vessels, and small offshore platforms.
6. KR (Korean Register of Shipping) certification:
Issued by the Korean Register of Shipping. Founded in 1960, the Korean Register is one of the world's nine major classification societies. It joined the International Association of Classification Societies in 1988 and was accredited by the Institute of London Underwriters in 1990. The KR certification standard is specifically designed for the typhoon-prone and high-salt-fog environments of Northeast Asia. Marine equipment must pass extreme tests at -40°C, and welding techniques have been optimized for South Korea's precision shipbuilding technology. The certification process is efficient, typically completing in about three months, but the audit is rigorous, even including verification of supplier warehouse temperatures and packaging methods. KR certification is essential for ship entry and insurance in Northeast Asian trading blocs such as South Korea, Japan, and China. 43% of global bulk carriers and 22% of tankers carry the KR label, giving it a clear technological advantage in the LNG carrier sector.
7. RINA certification (Registro Italiano Navale):
Issued by Registro Italiano Navale, a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) with over 160 years of history, RINA boasts extensive experience in maritime technical certification. RINA certification not only verifies a product's technical strength but also provides the industry with a replicable technology implementation path through risk assessment and regulatory compliance services. For example, the type certification for a 60kW marine hydrogen fuel cell stack issued by RINA to South Korea's VINSSEN involved vibration durability testing and dielectric strength testing to ensure the system's stability and safety under extreme operating conditions. RINA certification is recognized in Europe (Italy, Greece, and Turkey), the Mediterranean, and parts of South America. Its products have been used in leisure boats and government vessels, playing a crucial role in the development of green maritime technology standards.
Marine grade aluminium sheets hold internationally recognized core certifications such as CCS, ABS, LR, DNV, BV, KR, and RINA, providing buyers (such as shipyards and offshore engineering companies) with multi-dimensional key value: they can directly meet the compliance entry thresholds for shipbuilding in different regions (e.g., Korean projects require KR certification, and European projects require LR/RINA certification), thus avoiding rework or inability to navigate due to lack of certificates. Furthermore, they can complete scenario-based performance verification for low temperature, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and other scenarios in advance, thereby reducing safety hazards and replacing secondary testing to shorten procurement cycles and save costs. Furthermore, they can ensure the consistency of material batches and adapt to stable production processes, helping buyers meet the bidding requirements of international projects and increase the probability of winning bids. Furthermore, when quality issues arise, they can rely on certification documents to clarify responsibility traceability and effectively control procurement risks and supply chain costs.
