Khalifa Port and Zayed Port become first Middle East commercial ports to achieve ISPO certification
Abu Dhabi Ports, the master developer, operator and manager of ports and industrial zones in the emirate, has received the International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organisations (ISPO) certifications for its marine pilotage service, the Company said Wednesday in a press release.
Abu Dhabi Ports Marine Services has received the plaudits for the pilots working at Khalifa Port― the first semi-automated port in the region, and Zayed Port― a premier regional hub for cruise industry, and general and bulk cargo. These two ports have attained the distinction of being the first commercial ports in the Middle East to achieve this acclaim.
The pilots working at these ports are responsible for helping the navigation of thousands of vessels every year. As the captains of the visiting ships are not familiar with Abu Dhabi waters, marine pilots of Abu Dhabi Marine Services get on board those vessels and take over the ships’ bridge to manoeuvre the vessel safely into the port and, later on, back to sea. The pilots have won the commendation for compliance of their services with the international safety standards.
The ISPO certification is a code of best practice for pilots and pilot organizations, which is implemented by a method of self regulation. Developed by the European Maritime Pilots Association in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register―a global engineering, technical and business services organisation, ISPO is managed by the International User Group (IUG). It aims to make pilotage organisations more transparent and to provide a framework for providing improved services, including better communication between pilots and those who use their services. Abu Dhabi Ports has been working with Lloyd’s Register for past one year to attain this acclamation.
Being audited by external auditors, ISPO system acts as a tool to continuously improve quality and port safety. The pilots with Abu Dhabi Marine Services have mastered a high-level of expertise that helped them win the laurels. They have maintained ‘zero incidents’ in their services, an established objective of Abu Dhabi Marine Services.
“This commendation is a reward for Abu Dhabi Ports’ continuous efforts to live up to our established corporate values of safety and security, and quality. This is also an honour to our pilots and entire Marine Services team that have always kept the commitment to our established values,” said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports.
“Along with many other recent achievements, this testimony also supports our vision of being the preferred provider of world-class integrated ports services,” he added.
All the pilots in the Abu Dhabi Marine Services team had already achieved IMO STCW (International Maritime Organisation Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping).
A team of more than 160 experienced and highly skilled harbour pilots and related staff members at Abu Dhabi Marine Services help quick turnaround of vessels, ensuring their safe and timely passage. The team also provides all marine services and ancillary quayside services in Abu Dhabi’s ports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.