Vanuatu Volunteers for Voluntary Audit Scheme

With its application to the IMO, Vanuatu has become the 27th administration to formally apply. As a small country, but with a significant interest in maritime matters both locally and internationally, Vanuatu has always been “ahead of the curve” when it comes to safety, pollution prevention, safety management, port state control, and security.

Vanuatu has, since the mid-1980’s, shortly after its independence and the establishment of the international registry, been an active participant in the workings of the International Maritime Organization, firstly with Dr. James Cowley as permanent representative and later with Mr. Parente. It is on the IMO STCW white list; has completed two voluntary assessments; has been on the USCG QUALSHIP 21 list for the last 4 years; and it has had a very good global port state control record for the last several years. It has personnel assigned to the STCW panels of competent persons and a representative from the New York registry office has been a member of the Marine Accident Investigators International Forum since its inception in 1992. Vanuatu has not failed to supply the Organization with any obligatory reports and prides itself on its proactive approach to its ship-owners.

The registry’s day to day operational office has been audited to ISO quality standards since the nid-1990s, first to ISO 9002, and then commencing 4 years ago, to ISO 9001-2000.

In making the presentation at IMO, Mr. Parente was quoted as saying “The Audit Scheme will certainly contribute to the Organization’s efforts to achieve consistent and effective implementation of the various instruments adopted under its auspices. Vanuatu looks forward to the audit: we welcome any opportunity to look at our operation through the eyes of others.”

When contacted in New York, Mr. Donald J. Sheetz, Executive Vice President of Vanuatu Maritime Services Limited, the private company contracted by the Republic of Vanuatu to operate the ship registry, echoed Mr. Parente’s comments: “I am confident that the VAS process will be beneficial and just hope that other administrations will accept it just as Vanuatu has. We are very familiar with the audit process having done 3 or more internal and external audits per year since we were first confirmed to be in compliance with ISO standards in the mid-1990s, so we don’t anticipate any issues that we cannot address.”

Vanuatu currently has approximately 600 ships of about 3 million gross tons on its international ship registry.

For more information Vanuatu’s permanent representative can be contacted at [email protected]. The New York registry office can be reached at [email protected] or visited on the website at http://vanuatuships.com.

• Other Breaking Vanuatu News!

On March 12, 2007 while underway from Panama to Iquique, Chile, the Vanuatu flagged ship Orion Diamond was asked by the Chilean SAR to assist with a disabled fishing vessel, the Poseidon I, that had been adrift for 4 days.

Within 2 1/2 hours of receiving the call, the Orion Diamond arrived alongside the stricken fishing vessel and within another hour the third engineer from the Orion Diamond had repaired the fishing vessel's engine.

After 4 more hours of standby, on the arrival of another fishing vessel, the Orion Diamond was released to continue its voyage to Iquique.

Our compliments go to Captain Satoru Yamato, master of the Orion Diamond, and his third engineer for acting in the best traditions of the sea. We echo the remarks of the Chilean authorities when they said: "This action demonstrated the courage, commitment and solidarity of seamen when facing dangerous situations that may affect others … thus safeguarding human life at sea."

Thank you, Captain Yamato!