The pilots of Palma's Port, the first ones in Spain to obtain an international pilotage certification
22/04/2016The pilots of Palma's Port have been certified by the Classification Society Lloyd's Register in the international standard ISPO (International Standard for Maritime Pilot Organizations). Thus, they have become the first port service to receive this certificate at the national level, the first one in the Mediterranean and the seventeenth at a global level. The ISPO lays down the quality standards of the pilotage service in the main European ports, like Rotterdam, Antwerp, Liverpool or Amsterdam. Today, Palma Pilots' Association is formed by six pilots, ten crew members and office staff who have been working for years to get this certificate. To that end, they have implemented an efficient and verifiable management system based on the needs of Palma's Port, especially regarding safety, occupational health and environmental management. Apart from this certificate, Palma's pilots have had the certificates ISO 9001, 18001 and 14001 for years now. The pilots thus meet the challenges and current needs of Palma's Port, which receives large cruise ships throughout the year, as well as cargo ships, many of them with fuel load. Pilotage is a universal service, mandatory for ships over 500 tons or of any size whenever they transport dangerous goods. Its function is to guarantee the safety of the port and its facilities and of the vessels, but also of the environment and the people. It is a franchise highly regulated service due to its impact on navigation safety.
