classification society
noun[C]
COMMERCEUKukuspluralclassification societies(USclassification authoritypluralclassification authorities)anorganizationthatdevelopsofficialstandardsfor theshippingindustryandcheckstheconditionofshipsandtheirequipmentto makecertainthey aresafeandmeettheofficialstandardsof theshippingindustry:
One of thebestknownClassification Societies is Lloyd's Register of Shipping,basedin London.