Successful operations through systems

Compliance with conventions is checked and certified regularly on AIDA ships. In many areas, AIDA exceeds the requirements of conventions, as is the case with our ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications.

• ISO 14001
  All our ships are certified according to environmental standard 14001 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to support our implemented environmental management system (EMS). An independent third-party organization regularly checks our EMS according to ISO 14001.

• OHSAS 18001
  All of our occupational health and safety management systems onboard are based on OHSAS 18001:2007, the most globally recognized occupational health and safety management system standard. This standard is regularly checked by us and external organizations.

• SOLAS
  SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) governs the safety requirements for the design, construction, equipment and operation of ships as well as safety management.

• ISM Code
  The International Safety Management Code is the international standard with which all seafaring ships must comply, which governs the safe management and operation of ships and the prevention of environmental pollution. The ISM Code is a part of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).Sicherheitsmaßnahmen.
  
  
• ISPS Code
  The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code defines the safety standards, requirements and processes for preventing hazards in ships, ports and governments by requiring, for example, the development of safety plans, evaluations of safety risks and threats and the implementation of preventative safety measures.

• MARPOL
  MARPOL (The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) is the most important international convention that aims to prevent ships from polluting the marine environment. The compliance with this convention is regularly checked by flag states on all AIDA ships and by all AIDA ships themselves.

• IMO Ballast Water Convention
  The Ballast Water Convention helps to prevent microorganisms from spreading via ballast water into areas where they are not wanted and would threaten the local biodiversity.

• STCW
  The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers of 1978 sets the standards for the training, qualification and certification of seafarers, as well as standards for the skills of crew members and methods that demonstrate their abilities.

• MLC
  The international basis of regulations on labor law for cruise ships is the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) issued by the International Labor Organization (ILO) a subsidiary organization of the UNO (United Nations Organization). The world-wide applicable working conditions include health, security, minimum age, recruiting, working hours, accommodation onboard and social security and guarantees adequate working and living conditions onboard. The flag states and/or the responsible classification societies check and certify regularly the compliance with this high maritime social-standards.

• USPH
  The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) was founded in 1798 as a lose network and is an authority within the Department of Health in the United States. The USPHS sets the highest hygiene standards world-wide. This applies for ships with more than 13 passengers which sail through international waters and call at a port in the US.
  
  

A complete overview with detailed descriptions of the applicable standards in cruise shipping, as well as within the Carnival Corporation, is available in the latest Carnival Corporation sustainability report

In order to meet our demanding quality standards, we have introduced our own management systems which cover areas beyond international conventions, and we develop these continuously. The company-wide management system within the Carnival Group, which meets and in some cases exceeds the ISO requirements in relation to safety and health in particular, incorporates more than 400 individual processes. Other internal standards include:

• THE HESS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
  The Carnival Corporation’s HESS management system regulates our management of processes concerning the environment, health and safety both at sea and on land. In many areas, these HESS standards go beyond the regulations that apply on land and particularly consider the requirements of the cruise industry. These standards and processes are continually checked by means of internal and external audits.

• Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
  With our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, we undertake to interact fairly with business partners, suppliers and competitors, and to maintain the accuracy and integrity of business transactions.

• Donation guidelines
  These provide transparent, uniform criteria according to which our company makes donations, and assigns responsibility for managing the company’s donations budget.

• Customer Experience Management
  We keep a systematic record of our guests’ feedback and derive measures from this feedback to increase our guest satisfaction.

• Training management
  We provide our employees with support to help them achieve their own potential and to develop their expertise on a regular basis with diverse basic and advanced training opportunities specific to working on cruises.

• Service standards
  We encourage our employees to act proactively so that we can surpass our guests’ expectations with regard to service, quality and the diversity of their experience. As part of our internal service initiative, we train all of our employees and reward outstanding performance.  

• Performance and talent management
  This system enables us to recognize the skills and accomplishments of our employees, to promote their strengths and to arrive at long-term target-oriented development measures. Various criteria for success and the employee’s performance are discussed in annual performance reviews as part of an established, transparent process. Individual recommendations for development and support programs, such as taking part in training courses, can then be derived from these discussions. Employees who demonstrate pronounced interdisciplinary skills and who excel at their work are supported through a company-wide talent management program, while we also offer individual development prospects to prepare selected employees for management roles.