Created in 2007, the FONASBA Quality Standard is tailor-made for the maritime sector. This standard, which meets well-defined eligibility criteria and which is subject to a prior audit of the company concerned, attests to the professionalism of shipping agency, ship consignment and charter brokerage activities.
This standard is recognized by international maritime organizations, such as BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council), INTERCARGO (International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners), INTERTANKO (International Association of Independent Tanker Owners).
The implementation of this quality standard is a first in Morocco, since it is the first African and Arab country to introduce this quality standard, which will not fail to have very positive consequences on port services and maritime and also raise the level of management of professionals in the sector.
With the aim of neutrality and confidentiality, APRAM has outsourced the certification audit to this standard of interested member companies, to a specialized firm of international renown which alone has the right to inspect the required documents and which certifies the fulfillment of the eligibility conditions by the audited companies while issuing a certification audit report. Companies that have obtained this standard are subject to a biennial audit for its renewal.
It is on the basis of this audit report that APRAM and FONASBA grant the audited member company the status of member certified to the FONASBA Quality Standard, which is materialized by a nominative certificate allowing it to bear the logo of approval to this standard on all its internal documents.
To obtain this certification, the interested member company must meet the eligibility criteria established by APRAM and validated by FONASBA. The ISO Quality certification is an additional asset to acquire the FONASBA Quality Standard.
APRAM, which in the past has already carried out actions to upgrade and ISO quality certify its members, has set up the FONASBA Quality Standard for shipping agents and ship consignees, to raise the reputation of professionals in the maritime sector in Morocco.
To adhere to this certification to the FONASBA Quality Standard, the interested company must send a request to APRAM which, in return, will communicate to it:
- An explanatory letter on the FONASBA Quality Standard and the audit procedure for obtaining this certification.
- Eligibility criteria for this international standard
- The FONASBA Code of Conduct
- The appendix to the SQF audit procedure
- A form to fill out