GL issues ISM/ISPS certificate for 5,000th ship

Hamburg headquartered classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has marked a milestone with the hand-over of the Safety Management Certificate and International Ship Security Certificate to the MV KOTA BERKAT. The Kota Berkat, owned by Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL) and managed by Apex Ship Management, is the 5,000th vessel sailing with ISM and ISPS certificate issued by GL as a Recognized Organization (RO) and being periodically audited for compliance.

The GL Group has recently establsied a new service delivery section “GL Systems Certification” to offer both marine and non-marine management systems certification, including certification according to the ISM-/ISPS-Code, ISO standards, and the upcoming Maritime Labor Convention, 2006.

“We were delighted to discover that one of our managed vessels has marked the milestone of 5,000th vessel sailing with Class GL ISM & ISPS certificates. Apex is looking forward to enhance the safety management system, environmental protection and security compliance working together with and under the guidance of Class GL,” said Philip Tay Chief Executive of Apex Ship Management Pte Ltd.

Apex Ship Management, the Singaporean operator of the Kota Berkat, has recently taken over some 15 GL classed vessels. Compliance with the ISM-/ISPS-Code certification allows Apex to demonstrate to clients that it operates to a high level of safety, security and environmental protection. Lukasz Luwanski, GL’s Area Manager for South Asia and Oceania said: “We are very pleased to be able to recognize Apex’s commitment to safety and security through this certification and we look forward to a continuing and productive relationship working with them.”

As part of their efforts in ensuring its vessels’ compliance with the ISPS code the shipowner, PIL has, among other things, installed the automatic identification system to enhance vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-shore identifications and communications, on board installation of a 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 also be complemented by training through the GL Academy.

Photo (from left to right): Capt Thet Oo Maung, Apex Ship Management; Capt G R Prathap, Maritime Port Authority of Singapore; Capt Philip Tay, Apex Ship Management; Capt Senczuk Krzysztof Zbigniew, Captain of the MV Kota Berkat; Y C Lam, Germanischer Lloyd; Maslyn Choo, Germanischer Lloyd

September 26, 2011