2018 has already been an eventful year. Here is a summary of the key activities so far:

The Assessment Programme proceeds well with, so far 37 of the planned 62  audits planned for 2018.

January 

• Appointment of QACE Technical Expert Tim Ho
• The Annual Assessor’s Meeting is held at the QACE office in London to plan the 2018 QACE Assessment Programme.
• London office Board Meeting and welcome to the new President, Bureau Veritas’s Patrick Le Dily for his first full meeting.
• QACE Technical Expert participated in the annual IACS Auditor Refresher Training Course, this time in Vladivostok.

February 

• QACE completes a successful ISO 9001:2015 audit 

March

• The appointment of New QACE Director Dr Nikos Mikelis

April

•  An Individual Recommendations visit was made to the Polish Register of Shipping.
•  QACE publishes the 2017 Annual Report and  2018 Intersted Parties Survey online.

May

• QACE provide the International Maritime Organisation member State and adviser with the 2017 Annual Report and 2018 Collective Recommendations.
• QACE holds the mid-year Board Meeting, again at the London office.

QACE publishes it’s 2017 Annual Report. The report includes sections on the QACE Work Plan, assessment activity, assessment results and, in Annex C, the Collective Recommendations for 2018.

http://qace.co/?p=2944

Türk Loydu (TL) as a company applying for EU recognition are subject to the same QACE assessment and certification process as the already Recognised Organisations.

TL made a courtesy call to the QACE office to discuss progress.

Aydin Gürbüz (Quality Management Division Manager), Cem Melikoğlu (TL Chairman of the Board of Directors) and Des Gutteridge (QACE Secretary General)

During a ceremony in Paris to honor Klaus Grensemann, Francis Vallat stated that “apart from his long career and service to the maritime industry, it is as the current and respected Chairman of QACE that the French National Order of Merit is awarded today.” Mr Vallat went on to say that it is because of Mr Grensemann’s highly effective Chairmanship that “QACE has delivered so effectively its mission to monitor worldwide in representative offices, and aboard ships, the quality of classification societies work.”

QACE is delighted to announce that Tim Ho, one of QACE’s vastly experienced Assessors, has been appointed Technical Expert. The role includes the development and delivery of technical training, development of QACE audit requirements as well as continuing with assessment visits in Asia.

The QACE Assessors flew into London for meetings to discuss the results of assessment activity in 2017 and to plan the 2018 Assessment Plan. Des Gutteridge, QACE Secretary General, says ‘the far reaching proposals that have stemmed from the meeting are a testament, not only to the increasing effectiveness of QACE activity, but to the team’s engagement and motivation. Read more at QACE Assessor‘s Meeting 2018

Top left to right: Tim Ho, QACE Assessor; Klaus Grensemann, QACE Chairman; Des Gutteridge, QACE Secretary Genereal; Gur Sarup, QACE Assessor; Alvin Shepherd, QACE Assessor. Bottom left to right: Dean Tseretopoulos, QACE Director; Alima Kamara QACE Assessment Manager; Mike Jennings, QACE Assessor & Hartmut Nickel, QACE Assessor

QACE attended the IACS End User Workshop (EUW), in Singapore on 9th November 2017 to discuss with the audit bodies and stakeholders, its feedback in relation to the audit scheme.

QACE is happy to report its satisfaction and confidence with the audit scheme and the verification that the scheme is meeting the QACE objectives.

Francis Vallat steps down as a QACE Director having completed his final term of office. Francis has been a QACE Director since its beginning in 2010. His ship owning expertise and experience, together with his comprehensive guidance has been a major factor in QACE’s success. His presence will be sorely missed. The QACE Board, Secretariat and the QACE Members wish Francis all the best in his future endeavors.

The QACE Members and stakeholders attended the QACE Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Singapore on 7th November 2017. Chaired by the President, Andrew Kennedy, the meeting included the Director’s Report, the 2018 Work Plan and 2018 Budget.