Lloyd's Register - Fairplay formed in July 2001 from a merger of Lloyd's Register's Maritime Information Publishing Group and Prime Publications Ltd. This merger brought together the two largest maritime database providers of ship, company, port and other related information. In March 2008 Prime Publications Limited was acquired by IHS Inc. In June 2009 IHS Inc. acquired Lloyd's Register's share making Lloyd's Register - Fairplay a wholly owned division of IHS Inc.
(www.ihs.com)As the leading provider of maritime information, Lloyd's Register Fairplay are keen to ensure that universal standards are adopted in key areas of the industry, to simplify recognition, analysis and research.That is why agreements have been reached with the International Maritime Organisation to assign a unique number to ships, DOC companies and registered owners.Additionally a new vessel type coding system has been developed in consultation with the International Maritime Statistics Forum and other leading industry groups.