The N-Sea Quality, Health, Safety and Environment Management System defines the goals which N-Sea is pursuing. The system covers management and operational procedures, procurement, quality, quality control, HSE management, employees responsibilities, health and safety practises, work permit system, new employees-procedures, environmental policy, control of hazardous substances and risk assessments.

N-Sea is ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISM-Code, IMCA and VCA** certified by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance.

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code was adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in November 1993 and made mandatory under Chapter IX of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The Code sets out to ensure safety at sea, prevent human injury or loss of life, and avoid damage to the marine environment and property.

The Code requires a safety management system (SMS) to be established by "the Company", which is defined as the shipowner or any person who has assumed responsibility for operating the ship. The SMS sets out the procedures by which the safety and pollution prevention aspects of a ship are managed, both ashore and on board.

A Document of Compliance (DOC) will be issued by a recognised organisation after having verified that the Company has properly developed and implemented a SMS which complies with the ISM Code. The Company must produce objective evidence to show that the SMS has been in operation for at least three months on board at least one ship of each type operated by the

Company.

A Safety Management Certificate (SMC) will be issued by a recognised organisation to each ship operated by the Company after an initial verification of compliance by way of an external audit on board the particular ship.

IMCA, the International Marine Contractors Association is the international trade association representing companies providing marine support to the offshore construction industry, including those involved in pipelay, heavy lift, diving, remotely operated vehicles, hydrographic survey, construction, specialist vessels and supply of marine contracting plant and equipment,

as well as those active in skills training to support the industry.

IMCA promotes improvements in quality, health, safety, environment and technical standards through the publication of information notes, codes of practice and safety flashes designed to help members learn from each others' experiences. IMCA employs other appropriate communication means including international and regional conferences, workshops and

seminars.

VCA** (SCC**), stands for Safety, Health and Environment Checklist for Contractors, but it is much more. SCC is a complete and varied programme that enables the SHE (SHE = Safety, Health, Environment) management system of service companies to be assessed and certificated structurally and objectively.

An SCC (or SCT) certificate is intended solely for companies that perform work involving an 'increased risk', or that have work of this kind carried out. The work concerned is usually performed in factories, in workshops or on site. For example, maintenance work in the petrochemical industry, dredging, on rail infrastructure, work at height, etc. This work is generally performed by contractors, or rather: parties carrying out work on the instructions of clients. In that case the relationship is a subcontracting relationship.

The SCC certification system was created by companies and contractors in the petrochemical industry in the Netherlands. It is meanwhile in use in other branches of industry and is no longer confined to the Netherlands. Belgium already uses the SCC system and it has already been introduced in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well.