Odfjell nr 3 - 2005.indd

Odfjell Ship Managementis ISO 14001 certifiedBy Oddvar Sæle, Odfjell Ship ManagementOdfjell’s environmental efforts and contributionto protect the environmenthave reached another important milestone.On July 6th 2005, Odfjell ShipManagement Department received theISO 14001 certificate from Det NorskeVeritas (DNV). The certificate coversship management of tankers for oilproducts and chemicals, including ourbranch office in Singapore.What is actually ISO 14001?ISO 14001 is an international standardwhich specifies requirements for an environmentalmanagement system. Theoverall aim of the standard is to supportenvironmental protection and preventionof pollution. Unlike many othermandatory standards and systems whichwe have to comply with, ISO 14001 is avoluntary system which Odfjell has decidedto implement and follow.What have we done in order to be ISO14001 certified?A number of things have been doneto achieve ISO 14001 certification. Westarted with identifying all aspects ofour operations that can interact withthe environment, such as emissions toair and sea, use of energy, generationof waste, etc., in order to determine theenvironmental impacts of significance.Then we implemented an environmentalprogramme, which included specificobjectives and targets to foster environmentalprotection. The programmecovers both shore-based and on boardactivities, and training has been carriedout both on the ships and ashore.In the preparation and implementationprocess we have received very valuableinput and assistance from our vessels.The basis for these efforts is a clearmanagement commitment to continuousimprovement in the prevention ofpollution and emissions to the environment.What does the ISO 14001 certificatemean for us in the future, and what dowe have to do to maintain the certificate?The key elements for us are continuousimprovement and commitmentthroughout the organisation. In theyears to come we have to maintain theenvironmental programme, and on acontinuous basis adopt new activitieswhich support our policy and objectivesto improve the environmentalperformance. Our environmental managementsystem will also be subject toaudits and reviews, which are intendedto result in further improvements andto ensure that we comply with internaland external requirements. The ISO14001 has come to stay and will graduallybe more and more integrated in ouractivities, plans and procedures.The ISO 14001 certificate being presented by DNV Lead Auditor Jan Erik Sverre to Oddvar Sæle, SMD Project Managerfor the ISO 14001 implementation16 ODFJELL Quarterly October 2005