ISO CERTIFICATION
Pilot stations in French ports are certified through a multi-location approach, implemented by the French Maritime Pilots' Federation since 1996.
The Federation manages the Quality Management System in the national field. Its role consists in conducting regular surveys on various local Quality Management Systems under the responsibility of Pilot stations, in order to improve continuously their efficiency.
- By adopting the ISO 9001: 2000 Standard, the pilots assert their will to reinforce the corporate image of the pilotage in a continuous quality improvement of their services, to the satisfaction of both customers and interested parties.
EXISTING INTERFACES
Commitments of the French Maritime Pilots Federation
Safety and efficiency of maritime traffic flow within ports remain the essential aims of the Pilot Stations.
Complying with these criteria involves specific requirements regarding to the reliability and the quality of service at the highest level.
Since 1996, the French Maritime Pilots Federation has implemented a Quality Management System which has allowed it to be certified ISO 9002: December 18, 1997 by the Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance.
The FFPM has accordingly acquired the ISO 9001 : 2000, certified by the LRQA in December 2003.
The Quality policy developed actually aims to :
- Optimize the Pilotage services provided to the ship Masters;
- Meet all the public service requirements entrusted by the French State, especially those concerning the protection of human life, of harbours’ infrastructures, of the environment, and additionally to the duty of reporting vessels’ deficiencies threatening maritime safety ;
- Have at disposal the tools required for the highest level of quality and reliability, and to apply them efficiently ;
- Insure a continuous and fitting training for the pilots and personnel;
- Implement an efficient internal organisation.
Quality Charter
French Maritime Pilots shall commit themselves :
- To observe and apply the Station Quality documents.
- To serve ships under the best safety conditions.
- To inform Captains of the pilotage operation details, their manoeuvring intentions and to ascertain they have been understood before proceeding.
- To report to the Harbour Master and the ships in the vicinity all relevant information about safety and efficiency of the traffic flow, as well as any information regarding the port security.
- To be courteous towards Captains, Agents and other interested parties in the framework of their activities.
- Not to contract any agreement with any parties involved in the pilotage operations, in order to preserve their freedom of action and an objective judgement, in the general interest of traffic and safety.
- To inform the ship s Agent as soon as possible of any accident occurring during the pilotage operation.
- To report immediately to the Port Office, and/or to the appropriate Maritime Authority, any accident, incident, ship deficiencies, and any remark liable to affect the safety of navigation, the protection of environment and the integrity of harbour works.
- To report in due course to the Ships Safety Office (Port State Control) any deficiency noticed on board ships and likely to affect the safety of life at sea, the safety of navigation, and the protection of environment.
- To maintain and update their technical and legal knowledge for the sake of good pilotage practice.
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