06 October 2003 (Houston, TX---) ABS has certified the first Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. containership to the IMO’s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). The International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) is the first of what is expected to be a fleet-wide conformance to the Code’s provision well in advance of the July 2004 implementation date. The ISSC was issued by ABS to Evergreen’s 1,164 teu, Hong Kong flag container ship the MV Uni Accord. According to Capt. Hemant Juneja, Division Head for Safety, Environment & Security Certification for ABS Pacific, the MV Uni Accord is not only the first container ship in the Evergreen fleet to achieve certification to the new security standards, it is also the first full convention International Ship Security Certificate for ABS, and the Hong Kong flag Administration.

Containership from Evergreen Marine Corporation's fleet. The MV Uni Accord is not only the first container ship in the Evergreen fleet to achieve certification to the new security standards, it is also the first full convention International Ship Security Certificate for ABS, and the Hong Kong flag Administration.

“Since its inception in 1968, Evergreen has shown an unwavering commitment to safety, quality and environmental protection first with its certification to the internationally recognized and combined ABS Safety, Quality and Environmental Management System (SQE) and now to the IMO’s ISPS Code standards for security with ABS acting as the Recognized Security Organization (RSO),” said ABS Chief Executive Office Robert D. Somerville.

ABS is authorized as a RSO to perform verification audits for compliance with the ISPS Code and to issue International Ship Security Certificates on behalf of 21 flag Administrations. It has applied to all leading flag Administrations worldwide to act on their behalf.

Nearly 150 ABS auditors have been trained to assist shipowners with meeting both IMO requirements and, when required, the additional security-related standards required for awarding the optional ABS class notation for security (ABS SEC).

According to ABS Manager of Safety & Environmental Systems Certification Patrick Fallwell, Evergreen is one of the many clients being proactive and working with ABS to achieve certification well in advance of the 1 July 2004 deadline.

ABS was the first classification society to issue guidance on meeting the ship security code and has distributed thousands of the first edition of the ABS Guide for Ship Security in response to industry demands. The second edition is now available in print and in CD version. It can also be downloaded from the ABS web site.

As the deadline for compliance approaches, ABS is recommending that clients consider a pre-assessment audit of the implementation of their vessel security plans. Citing the “no pass, no certificate” requirement. Fallwell says that such an audit “could eliminate many potential problems prior to the formal certification audit of the vessel.”

It is estimated that the Code requirements and required ISSC certificate apply to approximately 43,000 ships and mobile offshore drilling units.

Founded in 1862, ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to promoting the security of life, property and the marine environment through the development and verification of standards for the design, construction and operational maintenance of marine-related facilities.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the ISPS Code and Ship Security, visit the ABS web site at: http://www.eagle.org/prodserv/shipsecurity/ . An overview of the regulations, sample ship security plan and the ABS Guide for Ship Security are available.

For more information, contact:
Susan Gonzalez,
ABS
1-281-877-5853
or sgonzalez@eagle.org