Neptune Shipmanagement Services (Pte) Ltd (NSSPL) has today become one of the first ship managers to achieve the coveted ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system (EMS). The certification covers shore-based operations and vessels managed by NSSPL, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines.

NSSPL manages more than 30 containerships for NOL’s global transportation business, APL, and three tankers for the Group’s product tanker subsidiary Neptune Associated Shipping (NAS).

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard for EMS and provides organisations with a structured framework for managing and controlling activities which may have an impact on the environment.

NSSPL General Manager Mr Lim Tau Kok said the achievement of ISO 14001 by NSSPL is a natural step for a company which takes its responsibility to protect the environment seriously. Mr Lim said, “This is a reflection of our focus on quality ship management services and builds on our earlier ISO 9001 certification.”

He said certification involved a rigorous process and considerable work had gone into it. “With ISO 14001, we have a framework with which to measure and assess our environmental impact, and benchmark and report our progress in lessening any impact we might have on the environment as we conduct our business,” he said.

“At the same time, a strong and effective environmental management programme will allow us to gain efficiencies from streamlining and improving our operational processes. So this is positive for the environment, the company and our customers,” he added.

Mr John Stansfeld, Lloyd’s Register’s Asia Director today presented the ISO 14001 certificate to Mr Lim, in recognition of NSSPL’s achievement.

Mr Stansfeld, said, “We are pleased that NSSPL is once again at the forefront of the industry implementing a comprehensive environmental management programme for the entire company.

“NSSPL has a strong track record in quality and environmental protection. The integrated audit on its safety, quality and environmental policies and practices as a whole was conducted, and we were happy to find that they met, and in many areas, exceeded industry standards,” he said.

Mr Lim said NSSPL has already set environmental improvement targets and has specific initiatives underway to improve its performance even further. From next year, NSSPL will be publishing an annual environmental report documenting its progress.

NSSPL-managed container ship MV Jurong Bebaru recently become the first ship in Singapore to be certified in compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. The vessel was also certified by Lloyd’s Register.

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About NSSPL
Founded in 1983, Neptune Shipmanagement Services (Pte) Ltd (NSSPL) is the ship management arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Neptune Orient Lines (NOL). NSSPL is one of the largest ship management companies in Asia and manages over 30 ocean-going ships of NOL and its container transportation subsidiary, APL.