Marshall Islands Adopts New Standards for PMSCs

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has informed those companies with vessels under its flag that “effective January 1, 2016, companies shall engage only those PMSCs that are certified to the new ISO 28007-1:2015 standard by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) authorized certification body.”

The Marshall Islands, the world’s third largest registry with a fleet of more than 3,640 ships, is the first flag to implement the new rules following revised interim recommendations published in June’s Maritime Safety Committee circular MSC.1/Circ.1406/Rev.

At its 95th session, the MSC stated that flag states should ensure that PMSCs onboard ships hold a valid ISO 28007-1:2015 certification. ESC Global Security, an Estonia-based maritime security provider, has been audited according to the new standard.

The main difference between the new standard and the existing ISO PAS 28007:2012 version is that it includes a clause to ensure PMSCs have measures and procedures in place that are compliant with international law on human rights.

This is a new area for PMSC certification and a core aspect of ISO 28007-1:2015. It shows that PMSCs conform with all the relevant legal and regulatory obligations pertaining to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

ESC Global Security believes more flag states are likely to follow the Marshall Islands’ lead and implement the recommendations.