Plymouth Pilotage Service has recently been awarded the Certificate of Compliance by the International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organizations (ISPO) – a recognised standard for pilotage worldwide.
Plymouth is now just the 4th port to be recognised with this standard in the UK, and the 36th in the world.
Captain Rich Eggleton, Plymouth Pilotage Service:
“Achieving the ISPO Certificate of Compliance demonstrates the Plymouth Pilotage Service’s ongoing commitment to best practice and demonstrates our high levels of competence required to be accredited. As the pilotage service for Plymouth we work with a wide range of vessels including cargo, ferry and cruise, alongside a range of scenarios including deep draft, river and inland waterways and harbour and docking pilotage. The pilotage service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is imperative that each pilotage move is done safely and efficiently and this accreditation recognises our ongoing commitment to that.”
Captain Matthew Easton of the International Users Group of ISPO Certified Pilot Organizations:
“The IUG congratulates Plymouth Pilotage Service as the newest accredited ISPO Pilot Organization. The IUG, responsible for the ISPO code, is pleased that Plymouth Pilotage Service, as a smaller organization, has achieved this accreditation. It shows that no matter how many pilots in a particular Service, ISPO is the preferred QMS [Quality Management System] for pilot organizations. In recent years, more and more pilot organizations are becoming aware of the benefits of ISPO for a solid platform to continuously improve their operations with regard to quality, safety and the environment.”
The ISPO is a standard of best practice for all pilot organisations, improving safety and quality. On successful award it is valid for five years with self-regulatory assessment and transparency continually required to ensure standards are met.
Bureau Veritas conducted the initial audit. Darren Roberts of Bureau Veritas presented the ISPO Compliance Certificate to Harbour Master Capt. Richard Allan and Pilot Capt. Richard Eggleton.
