MCA Quality Assurance

The MCA is the UK Flag State Administration and is responsible for the implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code within the UK merchant fleet. MCA has chosen not to delegate this responsibility to any recognised organisation and conducts all ISM Code audits itself.

The Safety Management Certificate (SMC) audits are conducted by MCA surveyors unless delegated to a Recognised Organisation (RO). Apply for your ISM audit using form MSF 5100 - Application for Survey and Inspection of Ships.

Document of Compliance

Document of Compliance (DoC) audits are conducted by MCA surveyors unless delegated to a Recognised Organisation (RO). Apply for your DoC audit using form MSF 5100 - Application for Survey and Inspection of Ships.

In multi-flag fleets, if the majority of your company's fleet is not UK registered, the MCA could authorise the Flag state (White or Grey listed on Paris MOU List) or its RO approved by UK to carry out the audit and issue/endorse the DOC on behalf of UK.

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

MCA Quality Assurance (MCA QA) was established to meet the growing demand from UK shipping companies for certification against the ISO 9001 and 14001 standards.

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are standards that relate to maximising quality (ISO 9001) and minimising environmental impact (ISO 14001) through the implementation of documented management systems.

Both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 focus on how an organisation manages its processes. Both these management standards state the requirements that the management system must have in order that the company processes focus on how they manage quality and environmental impact.

Benefits of implementing the ISO 9001 standard.

ISO 9001 provides customers with a benchmark standard against which your customers can measure your performance and be assured that your product and / or service are carefully monitored for quality. This leads to:

• Improved customer satisfaction
• Reduced costs by reducing losses
• Increased effectiveness in use of resources
• Motivated & committed employees
• Experience & Knowledge

Benefits of implementing the ISO 14001 standard

• Cutting costs, e.g. energy, waste, raw materials
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory and legal requirements
• Building public image towards clients, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders
• Motivating your employees

Benefits of Certification

• Reduced costs - increased profits
• Good customer relations
• Improved image/market share
• Help define best practices
• Competitive edge

Why Choose MCA QA?

MCA QA offers a harmonised audit programme that covers the ISM Code, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, MLC 2006 and the ISPS Code. This service is available to all companies wishing to minimise audit costs in terms of hard cash, man-hours and disruption. This provides:

• Single point of contact
• Fewer audits
• Extensive shipping industry knowledge

Scope of certification

MCA QA has the expertise to offer assessment against the following scope of activities:

• Water transport
• Cargo handling and storage
• Other supporting water transport activities

Policy on impartiality

MCA QA views the safeguarding of impartiality as extremely important in maintaining public confidence in MCA QA activities. MCA QA internal management reviews take appropriate action to maintain impartiality including taking appropriate actions if threats are identified arising from the actions of other persons, bodies or organisations.

The MCA QA Impartiality Committee is the body providing independent assurance regarding MCA QA impartiality and to counteract any tendency to allow commercial or other considerations to prevent the consistent objective provision of certification activities. It is made up of a MCA QA member, and external members who are independent of MCA QA and its clients.

MCA Client Status and Certification

The status of certification for a particular client with details such as name, standard, scope and geographical location can be made available on request.

For more information contact: quality.assurance@mcga.gov.uk