Tag: certification

Reasoned opinion to Denmark re Dutch passenger ships The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Denmark for obstructing the freedom to provide services. This is the last step in the procedure before possibly taking the matter to the Court of Justice. Denmark systematically requires Dutch sailing ships with more than 12 passengers docking in its ports following an international journey to have a certification under the SOLAS Convention. In so doing, it fails to examine for each of these ships whether the safety rules they are already subject to in the Netherlands would be sufficient to ensure an adequate level of safety. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union.The EU rulesDirective 2009/45/EC lays down rules for the certification of certain passenger ships engaged on domestic voyages. However, there is no European measure laying down harmonised rules for the certification of ships engaged on international voyages. Therefore, the Member States are in principle free to impose the safety rules they see fit on these ships, within the limits of European law.In this regard, applying national safety standards to ships flying the flag ...

GL Excellence for the highest quality, safety and environmental standards The shipping company Ernst Russ strives continuously for the highest quality, safety and environmental standards in shipping; in recognition of this it has now been awarded the "GL Excellence - 5 Stars" certificate by classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL). Ernst Russ Managing Director Mr Stefan Bülow and Mr Jan Stahmer, Health, Safety, Environment und Quality Manager, were presented with the firm's certificate by GL this week, making the Hamburg shipping company only the ninth ship-owner in the world to receive this prestigious award."Commitment to the highest safety and quality standards is a prerequisite for successful collaboration with our international partners and clients. This is why we are particularly delighted that this award underlines our approach," said Mr Bülow, CEO of Ernst Russ, as he received the certificate.International standards and management systems continuously optimise and oversee the safety, environmental compatibility, and operating processes of ships. Companies can document their efforts to comply with these standards, both mandatory and voluntary, through "GL Excellence" certification by Germanischer Lloyd. This provides independent proof of their commitment to the sustained improvement of their quality, environmental behaviour, reliability, safety and social responsibilities.Ernst Russ' fleet meets the ...

Chalmers University in Sweden has begun work this project Chalmers University in Sweden has begun work on a project which aims to examine the problem of false seafarer certificates, and how the production of a digital seafarer ID card might help to improve the situation.This research will form part of the EU-backed Mona Lisa project, and aims to conduct a feasibility and exploratory study of a system for control of onboard certificates.The aim of the study is to construct a system which will be able to remotely control crew certificates to simplify document handling and increase maritime safety.As part of this project Chalmers University is appealing to industry stakeholders to participate in the study and share their views, knowledge and experiences of seafarer certification.With this in mind, a website has been set up, at www.maritimefacts.com, where visitors can leave their input in a number of different ways, whether by leaving a comment or participating in a web survey.The project partners note that all responses will be kept confidential, and that names or e-mail addresses will not be forwarded to anyone else.Source: The Digital Ship

This authorizes certain ROs to carry out inspections and issue certificates under the MLC, 2006 The Republic of the Marshall Islands ratified the MLC, 2006 on 25 September 2007. Marine Notice No. 2-011-33 establishes the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator's Inspection and Certification Program to implement the MLC, 2006, which governs maritime labor conditions and sets minimum standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers aboard ships as applicable.The Inspection and Certification Program authorizes certain Recognized Organizations (ROs) including Bureau Veritas, as established under separate written agreement, to carry out inspections and issue certificates under the MLC, 2006 on behalf of the Marshall IslandsIn addition to the relevant Marshall Islands Laws and Regulations presently in effect with respect to maritime labor standards, ship owners and operators are encouraged to give effect to provisions of Marine Notice No. 2-011-33 on a voluntary basis in order to establish the necessary measures for verifying compliance in anticipation of the entry into force of the MLC, 2006.Maritime Labor Certificates issued during the voluntary period prior to the MLC 2006 coming into full force and effect shall be convertible to full MLC 2006 certificates when the MLC, 2006 comes into force.For more ...

Us stated its opposition Flag-state are highly opposed to European Union (EU) move to introduce mutual recognition of certification for ship machinery.US stated its opposition at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)'s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting last month and a growing number of flag states are ready show their contradiction towards the EU initiative.The debate is set to be taken forward to next month's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting.The opposition centres around concerns that non-EU flag states will have to accept marine equipment that has been approved through a system of mutual certification under which classification societies accept each other's certification without conducting their own survey. Under the current system, EU wants ship equipment to be individually certified on a case-by-case basis by the same classification society that certifies the hull.Other countries such as Panama, South Korea, Japan and Liberia are expected to join the US in arguing that accepting mutually certified ship machinery poses a threat to national sovereignty.It is also believed that mutual recognition will make European ship machinery more competitive and put them at a competitive advantage over Asian rivals.European Marine Equipment Council president Lars-Gorvell Dahall tells that the EU had the right to promote mutual ...

Marine Notice by the Republic of the Marshall Islands The Republic of the Marsall Islands issued Notice which applies to all Marshall Islands flagged ships and their seafarers, to which the MLC, 2006 applies in accordance with Article II of the MLC, 2006 upon its entry into force.For further information, click here.Source: Republic of the Marshall Islands