Quality service: Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu (left) receives an ISO 9001 certificate from BSI Asia Pacific.

The Marine Department today received an ISO 9001 certificate from BSI Asia Pacific.

The certificate attests that the quality management system the Ship Safety Branch of the Marine Department's Shipping Division set up has met the strict requirements of the ISO 9001 Standard.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Director of Marine Tsui Shung-yiu said there are several reasons for the Ship Safety Branch to implement a quality management system, the foremost being to maintain the Marine Department's credibility and preserve the shipping industry's respect.

"Obtaining a quality certification demonstrates our ability to implement and administer international rules and regulations in a systematic and consistent manner," he said.

Equally important is compliance with obligations under international maritime conventions, he added.

Mr Tsui said the department's Shipping Division was gradually working towards ISO 9001 certification for all its branches.

Noting that the certification of the Ship Safety Branch to the ISO 9001 standard marks only the first move in proving quality service to customers, Mr Tsui said the Shipping Registry and Seafarers' Branch is expected to complete the process by early 2004.

He said the Local Vessels Safety Branch is undergoing a major re-engineering process which will lead to delegation of most survey functions of local vessels to recognised organisations by the year 2006.