Using the expertise of its quality assurance business, LRQA, Lloyd’s Register has developed a shipping industry specific guide for the ISO 14001 environmental management standard to enable ship operators to establish and implement effective environmental management systems.

Environmental practical pack

The core is an environmental ‘practical pack’ for ship operators – a step by step approach to assist in identifying and prioritising environmental issues. It is designed to help operators evaluate the environmental risks and to incorporate any legal and other requirements they face. Other requirements may include those coming from specific stakeholders, charterers or other expectations placed on shipping companies. The pack will help quickly establish a corporate and fleet wide environmental policy and identify necessary environmental improvement objectives. It uses the basis of the ISM systems by building on the strong pollution prevention objective in ISM utilising procedures already present but that also address non statutory environmental protection requirements, both at sea and ashore. Use of the pack can promote the development of vital checking and evaluation systems within any organisation by introducing a new system in a controlled and manageable way through a tiered approach towards certification.

Clean business should also be good business

Shipping remains the most efficient, environmentally friendly, and often the only, means of moving freight. But much can be done to reduce the impact of shipping on the environment and managing the environmental impact of ship operations is a paramount expectation of regulators and many charterers as well as recognising the need to make the most of resources. The increasing operational complexity of shipping and increased regulation in the industry requires management to use systems to help them meet goals of continuous improvement.

There is increasing evidence of significant cost savings generated through the effective implementation of environmental systems. This is a tool that will help industry to minimise risk and to continually develop the capabilities of assets and human capital by reducing operational inefficiencies and reducing risk. Better environmental performance and resources should also be better for a company’s bottom line.

Apostolos Poulovassilis, Lloyd’s Register’s Area Business Manager, Greece, Eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic, introducing the practical pack today said:” The marine industry has become increasingly aware of the importance of implementing management systems and standards. This pack provides operators with a pragmatic management tool to measure, manage, demonstrate and improve environmental performance. We see the development and support of this type of service as an increasingly important aspect of our role as a classification society: whether it is on as ship or in a shipyard. How do you get the most out of people and improve safety, protect the environment and overall performance? We believe the right tools with the right training can really help the industry and we are seeing great demand from our clients.”