IACS Shipbuilding and Repair Quality Standard: 2025 [digital]

Shipbuilding and Repair Quality Standard (Rec.47)

Sets out shipbuilding quality requirements for hull structures during new construction, including criteria for corrective measures when those requirements are not achieved. It also includes repair quality standards for existing ships. This standard is intended for situations where no recognised shipbuilding or national standards are in place.

The standard generally applies to conventional merchant vessels, hull areas governed by the rules of the Classification Society and hull structures constructed from normal and higher strength hull structural steel, applicability is subject to agreement with the Classification Society.

It does not typically apply to special ship types, such as gas tankers, or to structures made from stainless or other special steels.

The standard defines both ‘Standard’ and ‘Limit’ ranges for workmanship. The ‘Standard’ range reflects expected outcomes under normal conditions, while the ‘Limit’ range indicates the maximum allowable deviation. Work falling within the ‘Limit’ range is considered acceptable; where no such limit is given, values beyond the ‘Standard’ may still be accepted by the Classification Society.

It includes requirements for general construction practices, gas cutting, fabrication, alignment, welding joint details and remedial actions. Separate provisions cover repairs, including general repair requirements, welding, material use and qualification of personnel involved in repair work.

For any structural details or fabrication procedures not included in the standard, Classification Society approval is required based on qualified procedures or recognized national standards. The standard also specifies qualification requirements for personnel and procedures and includes dedicated guidance on the use of materials.