43In order to determine whether that is the case, it must be pointed out that the classification and certification activities are governed by international conventions on maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution, such as the Montego Bay Convention and the SOLAS Convention. More specifically, the classification of ships consists in the issuance of a certificate from a classification society chosen by the shipowner. That certificate certifies that the ship is designed and built in accordance with the class rules laid down by that society in accordance with the principles provided for by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Obtaining a class certificate is a prerequisite for statutory certification, which takes place after the shipowner has chosen the flag State.
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