Insurance relies on classification societies' expertise and judgement. This makes IUMI's engagement in the International Quality Assessment and Review Body (IQARB), so important. IUMI Secretary General Lars Lange had in May 2024 again the honour to chair the 6th IQARB annual meeting which took place at the IMO in London.

IQARB is an advisory body that has been established to review the certification process of the quality management systems of members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) by considering:

• the adequacy of IACS Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) in meeting the objectives set before classification societies/ROs by regulators, industry and in its compliance with the requirements of the RO Code in relation to the relevant provisions of IMO mandatory instruments, such as SOLAS;
• the performance of Accredited Certification Bodies (ACBs) against the criteria of QSCS;
• the nature of findings; and
• the robustness and effectiveness of the agreed corrective actions that classification societies/ROs have put in place to address the findings that were identified during the ACB audits.

Many decisions were taken at IQARB 6 which help to advance the work of IQARB further. It is a true multi-stakeholder body with Flag States, industry organizations from insurance, ship-owners and ship-builders, IMO, IACS, European Commission and port state control as its members. Safety in the maritime industry is as always teamwork!