Image For Representation Purposes Only At its General Assembly on 30 April 2026, members of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) voted in favor of opening MACN membership to classification societies. Following this decision, MACN is pleased to welcome ABS, DNV, and RINA as the first classification societies to join the network. Strengthening integrity across the maritime value chain The maritime industry is facing growing complexity driven by geopolitical developments, changing trade patterns, and evolving vessel ownership and operating structures. These trends underline the importance of maintaining integrity across the maritime value chain and ensuring all relevant actors contribute to practical, coordinated solutions. Classification societies play an essential role throughout a vessel’s lifecycle, including design, construction, maintenance, surveys, and certification. Their work directly supports safety, compliance, and trust in international shipping, while also placing them close to technical, commercial, and regulatory decisions where integrity risks can arise, particularly in complex or high-risk operating environments. By opening membership to classification societies, MACN further strengthens representation across different parts of the maritime ecosystem. Their technical expertise, global reach, and influence can help improve information sharing, strengthen collective responses to corruption risks, and support greater consistency in standards and practices across the industry. The expanded membership also reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of global shipping and the need for collaboration across the maritime value chain. “Classification societies play an essential role in safeguarding standards, safety, and trust across global shipping. Welcoming them into MACN brings vital technical expertise and a wider perspective to our network. Our Collective Action initiatives will be stronger when classification societies stand alongside s