Vessel class status for marine insurance underwriters and brokers

Data from the IACS Vessels in Class dataset, as of 30 September 2026. Refreshed weekly.

Underwriters check a vessel's class status because maintaining class is typically a condition of hull and machinery and P&I cover. Vessel Class Finder returns the class society, status, survey dates and the reason for the latest status change from the IACS Vessels in Class dataset, by IMO number. You can check one vessel at submission or re-check a whole book by API.

Why class matters to hull and P&I underwriters

Class maintained is typically a condition of cover. If class is suspended or withdrawn, that can change how the risk is viewed. Read the wording of your own policies for what applies.

Class data helps at three points:

At submission: confirm the vessel is classed by an IACS member and the survey position looks normal.
During the policy year: catch suspensions, withdrawals and transfers between societies.
At renewal: see whether the vessel's status changed since you last looked.

Workflow: monitor a book of vessels

Export the IMO numbers from your policy or placement system.
Call POST /vessels with your x-api-key and batches of up to 100 IMOs, for example {"imos":["9074729","9321483"]}.
Store each result with the date you ran it.
The dataset refreshes weekly on Sunday. Run your check on Monday and compare with last week's stored results.
Flag any vessel where status changed to Suspended or Withdrawn, where class changed, or where date_of_next_survey is now in the past.
Send flagged vessels to the underwriter or broker who handles the account, and ask the assured for the class certificates.

You can try a single IMO first with the free lookup box. No signup is needed.

Fields and statuses to check, and what they mean

class: the society code, for example NV (DNV), LRS (LR), NKK (ClassNK), TLV (Türk Loydu). A change between checks means a transfer.
status: Delivered means currently classed. Suspended (575 vessels) and Withdrawn (4,848) mean class is not in force with that society. Reinstated (3,381) means class was restored. Reassigned (1,382) means class was reassigned, for example after a transfer.
reason_for_status: Survey overdue, Non-compliance with conditions of class / recommendations, Casualty, Sold for recycling (scrap), Transfer of class to another IACS member or Transfer of class to a non-IACS society. A transfer to a non-IACS society or a casualty usually needs a conversation with the assured.
date_of_survey and date_of_next_survey: the last survey and the next one due.
date_of_latest_status: when the current status took effect. Use it to date the change in your file.

Dates are DD/MM/YYYY strings.

What this data does not replace

The data comes from IACS's public dataset. It is not a substitute for official class records or certificates from the society, and it is not a coverage or claims decision on its own.

It covers only IACS-classed vessels. A vessel that is missing from the dataset may be classed by a non-IACS society, or may have no class. On a hull risk, that is worth checking.

Check a whole fleet at once

Free API key: 100 lookups a month, up to 100 IMO numbers per request. Paid plans from €49/month.

Get a free API key

Frequently asked questions

Is class status important for hull and machinery insurance?

Yes. Maintaining class is typically a condition of hull and machinery and P&I cover. Check the wording of your own policy for what applies.

How can I monitor a fleet for suspended or withdrawn class?

Send your IMO list to POST /vessels in batches of up to 100, store the results, and compare them each week after the Sunday data refresh. Look for changes in status or class.

How often is the class data updated?

The data is refreshed weekly from IACS, every Sunday, and swapped in atomically. Run your monitoring check after that.

What if a vessel is not in the dataset?

The dataset covers only vessels classed by the 12 IACS members. A missing vessel may be classed by a non-IACS society or have no class. Ask the assured for the class certificate.

How much does it cost to check a book of vessels?

Each IMO is one lookup. The free plan includes 100 lookups a month. Starter is €49 a month for 5,000 lookups and Pro is €199 a month for 50,000. Enterprise is custom.