DP World, UAE region, has become the first port operator in the Middle East to successfully implement the Regional Security Management System standards and achieve its regional ISO 28000:2007 certification from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).

The certificate was awarded to DP World, UAE, after LRQA assessors independently audited the security management system put in place by the premier regional port operator at its four facilities in the UAE: Jebel Ali Port, Mina Rashid, Mina Al Hamriyah and Fujairah Container Terminal.

Jebel Ali Port earned its individual ISO 28000:2007 in 2007. The management system is applicable to all activities including container and cargo handling, storage, and transportation, vessel movement, cruise liner passenger disembarking and embarking, and passenger movement.

The ISO recognition was presented to Mohammed Al Muallem, senior vice president and managing director, DP World, UAE, by Basem Obaid, general manager, Middle East and Africa, LRQA.

ISO 28000:2007 is the second internationally recognised accreditation achieved by DP World, UAE, in recent months. In May, Jebel Ali was awarded the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) certificate, which focuses on emergency response plans, security awareness for staff, security briefing for security personnel, and documentation procedures.

Al Muallem said: "The twin achievements of UNDSS and ISO 28000:2007 in two months is a result of team work and high performance by DP World, UAE region management and employees. We congratulate them."

Achieving ISO 28000:2007 certification was instrumental in DP World being invited to join the US Customs’ Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), paving the way for its participation in the US Department of Energy’s Megaports Initiative, fitting key terminals worldwide with radiation portals capable of detecting dangerous nuclear and other materials.

RISE IN PROFIT
Earlier, DP World, the world’s third-largest port operator, reported a 9.1 per cent rise in attributable profit for the first half of the year. The company, one of the more profitable assets of debt-laden Dubai World, made an attributable profit of $264 million compared to $242 million in the corresponding period of 2012, the company said.

Revenue for the six months ended on June 30 changed little at $1.51 billion compared with $1.53 billion in the prior-year period.

DP World, which has been selling assets globally, said it had realised $158 million of profit from monetisation of assets this year.