5,000 ISM/ISPS certificates from GL

The ship, managed by Apex Ship Management, is the 5000th vessel sailing with ISM and ISPS certificate issued by GL as a RO (recognized organisation) and periodically audited for compliance. GL says this marks an important milestone for the group and its new service delivery section known as GL Systems Certification, which has recently been established to offer marine and non-marine management systems certification, including certification according to the ISM/ISPS-Code, ISO standards, and the upcoming MLC 2006.

To ensure compliance with the ISPS code, owner PIL has, among other things, installed AIS to enhance vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore identifications and communications, installed an on board ship security alert system, developed vessel security plans, conducted shore-to-ship security exercises, and complied with flag state security certification requirements.

At the beginning of 2010, GL merged the industrial non-marine certification business with maritime certification standards. This allows maritime customers coming to GL to be offered any combination of certification services with one point of contact. These can be complemented by training through the GL Academy.

Apex Ship Management, based in Singapore, has recently taken over some 15 GL classed vessels. Lukasz Luwanski, GL’s area manager for South Asia and Oceania said: “We are very pleased to be able to recognise Apex’s commitment to safety and security through this certification and we look forward to a continuing and productive relationship working with them.”