ISO/PAS 28007 identifies compliance with legal requirements re PCASP on board
Global management system certifier, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) announces that it has certified its first UK private maritime security services clients, Solace Global and Ambrey Risk to the maritime security management system standard, ISO/PAS 28007 as part of the UKAS accreditation pilot. This standard requires Maritime Security Companies to fully identify and demonstrate compliance with all the legal requirements to provide privately contracted armed guards on-board merchant ships to guard against piracy in the high risk areas.
Announcing the news, LRQA UK Business Centre Manager, David Derrick commented: “Certification to the ISO 28000 and ISO/PAS 28007 standards clearly shows that Ambrey Risk and Solace Global have made a commitment in demonstrating their professionalism to ship owners and managers. In meeting the rigorous requirements of these standards, they have shown their commitment to customer service, quality, safety and risk management processes.
Photo caption shows, left to right: Kevin Smith, LRQA; John Simmonds and James Moreton, Solace Global; David Derrick, LRQA; Guy Winter, Ambrey Risk; Mike Richards, LRQA.
“We are delighted to certify both organisations that have clearly shown themselves able to deal with the complex and detailed requirements of ISO/PAS 28007 and in a relatively short timeframe. LRQA has provided a robust and challenging assessment of operations both here in the UK and in overseas locations and looks forward to working with both in the on-going assessment programme,” he concludes.
ISO/PAS 28007, as part of the ISO 28000 family of security standards, gives established guidelines to private maritime security companies (PMSC) that supply privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships. Certification to these standards demonstrates to the international community that they, and their operatives, can legally, safely and effectively guard shipping.
Mr Chris Charnley, Managing Director of Ambrey Risk commented: “We are extremely proud to have achieved certification to ISO/PAS 28007 with LRQA. Ambrey is committed to the very highest levels of compliance and standards and it is very rewarding to have had our systems and processes so comprehensively scrutinised whilst achieving what we have. It should help continue to build on the message to our current and future clients, that you can choose security providers who offer integrity, the very highest standards of compliance and therefore peace of mind, at attractive commercial terms.”
David Peach, Solace Global CEO comments: “We are delighted to be one of the first PMSCs certified to ISO/PAS 28007, having been instrumental in developing this standard and in helping to support our industry. It takes time, money and resources to put effective quality, health and safety and environmental management systems in place that continually strive to improve a business. The introduction of ISO/PAS 28007 specifies the requirements for a security management system and will in turn raise the bar for PMSCs and potentially make the selection process less time-consuming for clients.”
LRQA is one of three certification bodies participating in the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) pilot scheme. UKAS has been appointed to assess certification companies offering assessment to ISO/PAS 28007, verifying that it uses competent assessors with the correct qualifications and that rigorous, tested auditing processes are being followed. This is key in ensuring the confidence of the shipping market. It is expected that the accreditation process will be completed by the end of the year.
