ISO 9001-2000 Surveillance Audit

VMSL recently underwent its external surveillance audit with no negative remarks or non-conformities. ISO 9001-2000 places the emphasis on quality customer service which needs to be measured and documented. One measure used is the error rate in processing seafarer documents. In the two year period 2006-2007, over 15,000 seafarer documents were produced with only 63 found to have minor errors, resulting in an error rate of 0.41%. Another way to look at this was that 99.59% of all documents were issued without error. While this is not a perfect score, VMSL is striving to improve even on that great score. 

Future Marketing Plans

VMSL’s executive vice president Don Sheetz will be meeting again with Chinese and Japanese shipowners in April 2008 in Shanghai, China, and then in Imabari, Japan. Vanuatu will also exhibit at SeaJapan in Tokyo April 9-11, 2008. He is currently brushing up on his Mandarin and Japanese. Mr. C. C. Tan, president of  Richfield Marine, Shanghai, and his staff, and Captain Clive Grainger, Vanuatu’s Deputy Commissioner, Tokyo and Bangkok, will be on hand to offer shipowners fast and responsive ship registration services. Don was last in Shanghai and Tokyo in October 2007 for similar meetings.

 Government Rescinds the Vanuatu Maritime Authority Act

Parliament has rescinded the Vanuatu Maritime Authority Act of 1999 and the Prime Minister intends to move the responsibility for domestic maritime affairs to an enlarged Ports and Marine Department and to move the statutory responsibility for the international shipping registry to the Financial Services Commission, under the continuing administration of Vanuatu Maritime Services Ltd, which as been administering it for the last 14 years.

Fleet / Safety Letters

Three Fleet / Safety Letters have recently been issued. FSL 07091 deals with safety requirements and flag state inspections of small vessels under 500 gt, fishing vessels and non self-propelled vessels. FSL 08092 is the annual letter reviewing 2007 past performance and information relative to future international requirements. FSL 08093 provides guidance on the application process in order to assist owners and managers to complete the applications efficiently while saving them time, money...and paper.

Vanuatu New Building

While exhibiting at WorkBoat in late November 2007, Dee Rescigno had the opportunity to see the recently registered Vanuatu vessel M/V BOURBON MELTEM at Midship Marine Shipyard in Harvey just returning from sea trials.

Vanuatu Supplies Workers to New Zealand

A new agricultural workers scheme has had its first successful trial, sending ni-Vanuatu workers to help with the harvest in New Zealand. The second trial is currently underway for hundreds of ni-Vanuatu workers. It provides labor jobs for unemployed workers and a source of labor to farmers in New Zealand. Results indicate that it is a “win-win” situation for both sides. The ni-Vanuatu receive the benefit of agricultural training which can be used in Vanuatu, a chance to travel internationally, and a new income source.

Matthew and Hunter Islands

Disputes over the ownership of Matthew and Hunter Islands highlighted during the previous quarter. These two small volcanic islands in the far south of Vanuatu were again being claimed by France. However, President Sarkozy of France has now instructed France to withdraw its claim.

Residents Against Processing Tuna in Port Vila  (“RAPT in Port Vila”)

A new charitable association has been created in response to public demand to protest the construction of a new tuna processing facility in Port Vila in a joint-venture between the Vanuatu government and the Chinese National Fishing Corporation. It is anticipated that up to 40 long liner fishing vessels will be based in Port Vila to supply tuna to the facility. The social, economic, and human impacts of this major change have not been properly assessed, and no formal independent environmental impact study has been completed. RAPT wants to obtain a court order to force the government to undertake an independent Environmental Impact Assessment before continuing the joint venture.

It is noted in numerous international fishing agency reports that the catching of tuna in the Pacific needs to be reduced by up to 50% if the stocks are not to be decimated in the coming years.

Melanesian Spearhead Group New Headquarters

The People’s Republic of China have handed over to the Vanuatu government the newly completed MSG headquarters building which will house the Secretariat for this regional body, which is made up of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. The countries in the MSG are developing a regional economic sub-group for the development of its member countries. There is little doubt this major new building in Port Vila will soon be filled with employees.

 Passport Revocations

The Minister responsible is considering canceling some diplomatic passports. The Minister of Foreign Affairs has reported that up to two thirds of the 248 diplomatic passports on issue may be cancelled. These documents have been issued over the years to foreign nationals without sufficient justification and the recipients have failed to file any reports on their activities, as is required.

Cuba to Supply Medical Doctors

Cuba is reported to have recruited seven medical doctors to work in Vanuatu starting in 2008. They are scheduled to work in remote hospitals which do not have a resident physician. Cuba first offered medical doctor assistance twenty years ago, but language differences made communications difficult.

New Zealand to Help with Short Wave Radio Transmission

Due to equipment failure, many of the remote islands of Vanuatu no longer have radio news reception.  New Zealand has provided a grant to upgrade and re-furbish the National Broadcasting & Television Communication’s short wave transmission equipment.

EU Funds Remote Location Energy Facilities

The EU has committed more than 300 million Vatu (over US$3,000,000) funding to build affordable and sustainable energy facilities in Vanuatu. They include copra crushers and power plants, wind turbines, meters, operator training and public awareness programs.