World’s First Classification Society Apologises For Its Historic Role In Slave Trade

Lloyd’s Register, one of the oldest and most respected British maritime services companies in the world, has apologised for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.

The apology was made after a 2022 investigation revealed the company’s involvement in the trade of enslaved Africans during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Founded in 1760, Lloyd’s Register was the first classification society in the world. Its job was to inspect and certify the safety of ships.

However, the recent research commissioned by the company found that many of the ships it inspected were used to transport enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.

The company also helped in the sale and insurance of these ships.

The investigation was carried out by the Wilberforce Institute at the University of Hull, which found that Lloyd’s Register played a key role in supporting a system that enabled the slave trade.

The report also revealed that some m…

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