Quality and Certifications — Bangladesh's First ISO 9001 and MLC 2006 Certified Shipping Company

Quality is not a department at Haque & Sons Ltd. It is the foundation of everything we do. From the way we recruit and train our seafarers to the way we manage vessels, handle port operations, and communicate with our principals, every process we follow is built around a documented, audited, and continuously improving quality management system.

We were the first shipping agent in Bangladesh to receive ISO 9001:2015 certification from DNV. We were also the first shipping company in Bangladesh to achieve MLC 2006 certification. These are not just milestones. They are a reflection of over 75 years of disciplined maritime operations and an unwavering commitment to doing things properly.

Our Certifications

ISO 9001:2015

Quality Management System Haque & Sons Ltd. holds ISO 9001:2015 certification issued by DNV, one of the world's most respected independent certification bodies. This certification covers our quality management system across all crew management and shipping agency operations.

ISO 9001:2015 is the internationally recognised standard for quality management systems. It requires organisations to demonstrate consistent ability to provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, and to show continuous improvement in their processes and outputs.

Haque & Sons Ltd. was the first shipping agent in Bangladesh to receive this certification, setting a standard that helped shape quality expectations across the Bangladesh maritime industry. Our ISO 9001:2015 certification applies across our crew management, ship agency, port agency, freight forwarding, and related maritime operations.

MLC 2006

Maritime Labour Convention Certification The Maritime Labour Convention 2006, known as MLC 2006, is the international standard that establishes minimum rights and working conditions for seafarers worldwide. It covers areas including employment agreements, wages, working hours and rest periods, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare, and social security.

Haque & Sons Ltd. achieved MLC 2006 certification in January 2012, becoming the first shipping company in Bangladesh to receive this certification, well ahead of the mandatory industry implementation deadline.

This certification demonstrates our genuine commitment to the welfare and rights of every seafarer under our management. It is not just a compliance exercise. It is a reflection of how we have always believed seafarers should be treated.

InterManager Membership

Haque & Sons Ltd. is a proud member of InterManager, the International Ship Managers Association. InterManager was originally founded in 1991 as ISMA and was established with the mission to improve standards in ship management and achieve a safer, more environmentally conscious, more reliable, and more controllable ship management industry.

Membership of InterManager is a mark of commitment to the highest global standards in ship management. It places Haque & Sons Ltd. within a community of the world's leading ship management companies and demonstrates our alignment with international best practice across all our operations.

BMTI ISO 9001 Certification

Bangladesh Maritime Training Institute, our post-sea maritime training center, holds its own ISO 9001 certification from DNV for its quality management system. BMTI is the first maritime training institute in Bangladesh to receive this recognition.

This independent certification of our training institute reflects the same commitment to quality that runs through all Haque & Sons operations and gives our principals additional confidence in the standard of training their crew receives.

DG Shipping

Bangladesh Approval Bangladesh Maritime Training Institute is approved by DG Shipping Bangladesh, the national maritime regulatory authority, for conducting STCW 2010 courses covering all grades of Certificate of Competency.

International Maritime Academy, our pre-sea cadet training center, is approved by the Department of Shipping Bangladesh as the first private maritime academy in the country.

These approvals ensure that all training delivered through our institutions meets national and international regulatory requirements and is recognised by flag states and port state control authorities worldwide.

What Our Quality Management System Covers

Our ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system is not limited to one department or one service. It governs every major function of our operations.

Crew Management Quality

Every aspect of our crew management operation is governed by our quality management system, from seafarer recruitment and selection through to onboard supervision, welfare management, and repatriation. Our superintendents follow documented procedures for all onboard visits and report findings directly into our quality management process.

Training Quality

Our training institutions, IMA and BMTI, operate under their own quality management frameworks aligned with our company-wide standards. Course design, instructor qualification, simulator maintenance, and student assessment all follow documented procedures that are regularly reviewed and improved.

Shipping Agency Quality

Our ship agency and port agency operations follow documented procedures for vessel declaration, cargo operations supervision, disbursement management, procurement, and principal reporting. Every disbursement is supported by proper documentation and vouchers.

Port Agency Quality

Our port agency team follows documented procedures for owners protecting agency work, cargo discharge supervision, Statement of Facts verification, P&I assistance, and marine procurement. All activities are reported to principals with full transparency and documentation.

Continuous Improvement

ISO 9001:2015 requires not just documented processes but a culture of continuous improvement. At Haque & Sons Ltd., we conduct regular internal audits, review non-conformances, implement corrective actions, and use management reviews to identify opportunities for improvement across all our operations.

This continuous improvement culture is one of the reasons our principals continue to trust us year after year.

Our Four Core Quality Commitments

These four commitments sit at the heart of our quality management system and guide every decision our team makes.

1

Safe ship operation and full environmental protection at all times, across every vessel and every port operation we are involved in.

2

Exceptional crew performance through our own in-house training programs at International Maritime Academy and Bangladesh Maritime Training Institute, ensuring every seafarer we deploy is fully competent and prepared for their role.

3

Zero-loss and uninterrupted vessel operations for every principal we serve, achieved through careful crew selection, rigorous training, and active onboard supervision by our superintendent team.

4

Transparent and client-focused communication that protects our principals' assets and interests, backed by documented reporting, proper disbursement accountability, and open and honest engagement at every stage of the relationship.

Why Quality Matters in Maritime Services

The maritime industry operates in a high-stakes environment where the consequences of poor quality can be severe. A poorly trained crew member can cause a vessel incident that costs millions of dollars and endangers lives. A careless port agent can allow a disbursement overcharge or a Statement of Facts manipulation that results in a significant demurrage loss. A lax quality management system in a training center can produce seafarers who are certified but not genuinely competent.

Haque & Sons Ltd. takes quality seriously because we understand these stakes. We have been in this industry since 1948 and we have seen what happens when quality standards slip. Our certifications are the formal expression of a commitment to quality that has been part of our company culture for over 75 years.

Our Quality Certifications at a Glance

ISO 9001:2015 from DNV covering all crew management and shipping agency operations. First shipping agent in Bangladesh to receive this certification.

MLC 2006 certification achieved in January 2012. First shipping company in Bangladesh to achieve this certification, well ahead of the mandatory industry deadline.

InterManager membership, demonstrating commitment to global standards in ship management.

BMTI ISO 9001 certification from DNV for maritime training quality management. First maritime training institute in Bangladesh to receive this recognition.

DG Shipping Bangladesh approval for STCW 2010 training programs at Bangladesh Maritime Training Institute.

Department of Shipping Bangladesh approval for International Maritime Academy as the first private maritime academy in the country.

Our Quality Partners

DNV is one of the world's leading independent assurance and risk management companies. Their certification of Haque & Sons Ltd. and BMTI reflects the rigorous external auditing and verification that underpins our quality management system.

InterManager, formerly ISMA, represents the international ship management community and promotes excellence, safety, environmental responsibility, and reliability across the global ship management industry.

Our association with these internationally recognised organisations reinforces the credibility of our quality commitment to our principals worldwide.