PVI, Lloyd’s to Undertake ISO/PAS 28007 Certification

Protection Vessels International Limited (PVI) and Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) announced an agreement for PVI to take part in the ISO 28000/28007 pilot scheme.  The pilot scheme is due to commence in the next few weeks and will include an initial assessment of the PVI ISO28000 and ISO28007 PAS management systems.

In initial discussions between PVI and LRQA regarding the ISO/PAS 28007 pilot scheme, the companies agreed the importance of promoting the correct route to certification; that being through the ISO28000 Security Management Systems for the Supply Chain base standard taken together with requirements of ISO PAS 28007 which should be conducted by a certification body accredited by UKAS.

UKAS has been appointed to assess companies offering certification to ISO/PAS 28007, verifying that they are using competent assessors with the correct qualifications and that rigorous, tested auditing processes are followed. The importance of thorough and independent assessment against recognized standards (UKAS accreditation) is key to the confidence of the shipping market.  It is vital that standards of auditing are not undermined and that Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) are not tempted to become certified by a non internationally accredited certification body.  It is understood there are currently a number of certification bodies who have expressed an interest in being approved by UKAS.

UKAS will begin assessment of the certification bodies’ in June and aims to complete the pilot project by the end of the year. This will allow appropriate time for those certification bodies taking part to train its auditors to the rigorous requirements demanded by ISO/PAS 28007. In the meantime, during pilot schemes, ship owners can continue to work with the ISO/PAS 28007 document as guidelines to independently assess the competency of PMSCs. Concurrently PMSCs can continue their good work with pilot scheme certification bodies ensuring that the systems they have put in place are robust until official UKAS accredited status is granted.