Late 2025 witnessed significant developments for classification societies, characterized by changes to industry rankings and strategic alliances that supported maritime innovation and sustainability.
ABS Has Overtaken DNV In Lloyd's List 2025 Ranking
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) reached an important landmark by surpassing DNV as the world's largest classification society in terms of gross tonnage in service according to Lloyd's List review, published around December 8, 2025. This shift demonstrates ABS's increasing influence and rising vessel orders/renewals demand compared to Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Lloyd's Register, CCS and Bureau Veritas' third place positions respectively in this year's Lloyd's List review.
Under outgoing Chairman and CEO Christopher Wiernicki, ABS was at the forefront of innovation. They granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for nuclear-powered designs including a 15,000 TEU containership featuring molten salt reactor technology as well as a floating nuclear power barge, and updated their containership lashing notation (CLP-V(PARR) to include seasonality factors and advanced dual fuel solutions for LNG, methanol, ammonia as well as lithium-ion battery risk models - positioning ABS at the forefront of alternative propulsion and safety amid decarbonisation pressures.
China Classification Society Achieves Fifth Place and Signs Key AIP Agreements
China Classification Society (CCS) vaulted from sixth to fifth place in the 2025 rankings, overtaking Bureau Veritas and underscoring Asia's increasing presence in this field. CCS made an important partnership announcement when they signed an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with Silverstream Technologies that verified their air lubrication technology for improved fuel efficiency.
Silverstream and CCS have entered into their inaugural agreement, supporting project-specific integration on CCS-classed vessels for Chinese shipowners and yards. CCS has become increasingly important as an industry player due to their role in intranational projects as well as greater shifts towards cleaner technologies; evidenced by Silverstream joining Maersk COSCO and others to create the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation Alliance (GSTIA).
ClassNK Appoints New Leadership and Revamp of Rules
ClassNK appointed Hayato Suga as president and CEO and Fumihiko Higashi as executive vice president effective March 21, 2025; former CEO Hiroaki Sakashita moved from this role to chairman. On December 25, 2025, ClassNK updated its Technical Rules and Guidance as well as publishing updates online confirming its commitment to emerging technologies and smart ship solutions.
ClassNK recently unveiled their Tech Expertise Center in Piraeus, Greece to support emissions certification and digital transformation within a key maritime hub. ABS's Wiernicki highlighted shipping's entry into a fifth industrial revolution driven by AI for safety and efficiency purposes.
Broader Industry Trends and Regulatory Updates
DNV, Lloyd's Register (LR), and Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) all advanced sustainability initiatives. DNV expects alternative fuel vessels to consume 50 million tonnes of non-oil fuel by 2030 while LR implemented updated rules for marine castings effective January 1, 2025 and recorded increasing PSC detentions due to machinery breakdowns in Shanghai.
DNV recently unveiled new International Maritime Organization-mandated safety requirements for anchor handling winches beginning January 1, 2026 under SOLAS. RS was instrumental in shaping the outcomes of IMO Assembly 34th session with 22 resolutions regarding strategic planning; Korean Register, Rina and other maritime companies highlighted advisory services, wind-assisted propulsion technologies and hydrogen technologies as main themes.
These events demonstrate how classification societies have transformed from certifiers into enablers of technological and environmental progress, shaping vessel designs, fuel choices and regulatory compliance for global decarbonisation efforts.