It also guarantees compliance with both local and international conventions, including those of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The certification also helps meet the requirements of marine operators, such as ship owners and seafarers, and can lead to lower insurance premiums due to reduced risk exposure.

Governments use ISO certification to enhance accountability, efficiency, and consistency in their services, all while reducing costs and maintaining quality.

For VMSA, ISO9001 certification is not only an IMO recommendation but also a recognition by international partners and stakeholders, such as overseas Shipping Registries. The certification offers credible assurance of VMSA’s internal quality systems.

VMSA set the goal of ISO9001 certification in its 2024-2028 Corporate Plan, aiming to achieve it by the end of 2025. However, with dedicated effort, this target was met 12 months ahead of schedule.

The certification audits were carried out by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) of the UK, the most recognised Certifying Body in the maritime industry. LRQA operates in over 120 countries with 48 offices worldwide.

The Commissioner and his team began preparations in June 2024 and committed to being certified by the year’s end. Both management and staff underwent training, internal audits, management reviews, and devoted significant time and effort to ensure a successful outcome.

LRQA conducted two audits of VMSA’s internal policies, processes, and procedures to ensure they met the ISO9001 standard. These included a remote document review in September and an on-site visit in early December 2024 to verify the effective implementation of the QMS processes.

The audit covered the Efate head office, as well as offices in Santo and Tanna.

VMSA successfully passed the audit and was awarded the ISO9001 certificate in late December 2024.

Local consulting firm Quality Solutions assisted VMSA in preparing for the audits.

Lastly, as the ISO9001 standard directly contributes to four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it aligns with the Government’s Vanuatu 2030 – The People’s Plan. This demonstrates VMSA’s continued commitment to serving the people of Vanuatu.