Class in crisis?

摘要

If you listen to Robert Somerville, chairman and ceo of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) you may think the whole class society system faces an uncertain future unless the entire shipping industry takes action now. The picture painted by other top class society managers is generally more sanguine. There are certainly major developments underway but nothing that would rock the foundations of class, appears to be the message. Americans do not have a tradition of understatement and it is easy to dismiss Somerville's recent utterances as just a reflection of the particularly uncomfortable situation ABS finds itself in the continuing aftermath of the Prestige casualty. Nevertheless recent private comments from a top P&I club manager suggested it might be a good idea to take note of what Somerville is saying, and actually do something in response.