Main content

Our standards: operating successfully with systems

In order to meet high quality requirements, we have introduced our own management systems which cover areas beyond international conventions and wide-ranging national legislation. We work continuously to develop these further. The uncompromising compliance with all internal and external standards guarantees the safety of our guests and crew and expresses our sustainable approach. Internal and external audits are performed regularly to ensure they are abided by.

More information about our standards: Sustainability report of the Carnival Corporation & plc

The most important international conventions and standards

Compliance with international conventions and standards is checked and certified regularly on board AIDA ships.
AIDA exceeds these requirements in many areas.

ISO 14001
All of our ships are certified in accordance with environmental standard 14001 (ISO 14001) as set out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in order to support our implemented Environmental Management System (EMS). An independent third-party organisation regularly checks the compliance of our EMS with ISO 14001.

OHSAS 18001
All of our onboard occupational health and safety management systems are based on OHSAS 18001:2007, the globally recognized and cross-industry occupational health and safety management standard. Compliance with this standard is regularly examined both by us and by external organizations.

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

ISM Code
The ISM Code (International Safety Management Code) is an international framework of regulations that sets down binding measures regarding the safe running of ships and the prevention of maritime pollution. The ISM Code is part of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

ISPS Code
The ‘International Ship and Port Facility Security Code’ defines safety standards, requirements and processes for preventing hazards on ships, in ports and in governments by requiring, for example, the development of safety plans, evaluations of safety risks and threats and the implementation of preventative safety measures.

IMO Ballast Water Convention
The aim of the Ballast Water Convention is to prevent microorganisms from spreading into areas where they are not wanted via ballast water and thereby threatening the biodiversity of the affected area.

MARPOL
MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships) is the principal international convention that aims to prevent ships from polluting the marine environment. Compliance with this convention is checked and certified regularly on AIDA ships and by the competent flag state.

STCW
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW) is a UN convention that was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1978.

MLC
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is an International Labour Organization convention (the ILO is a subsidiary of the UN), which forms the international basis for labor law on cruise ships. The standards of the MLC, which apply uniformly around the world, cover basic working conditions including health, safety, minimum age, recruiting, working hours, accommodation on board and social security, and guarantee appropriate working and living conditions on board. The flag state and/or the competent classification company regularly checks and certifies compliance with these demanding maritime social standards.

VSP
The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) introduced the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) in the 1970s in order to support the shipping industry in developing and implementing a comprehensive hygiene program. All ships that can carry more than 13 passengers and which travel in international waters are inspected unannounced twice a year and more times if necessary.

100 points for AIDAvita
During an unannounced VSP inspection on 22.06.2018 in New York, AIDAvita scored 100 points out of a possible 100.

Our internal standards

The management system in force 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:

Environmental Compliance Plan
The Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) was implemented across the Carnival Corporation in 2017, the measures of which go far beyond fulfilling the internationally applicable legal requirements. They ensure consistent monitoring of and adherence with environmental indicators on all AIDA ships. Adherence with the standards in the plan will be checked regularly by external auditors, which will also help to contain environmental risk factors. The ECP also contains a binding, extensive environmental training system for all land-based and ship-based employees.

Global HESS
The Carnival Corporation’s global HESS management system governs our management of processes with regard to 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 take into account 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 define transparently the uniform criteria according to which our company hands out donations. They also set out the responsibilities for managing the donations budget.

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

Training management
We provide our employees with support to help them develop their own potential and expertise on a regular basis with diverse basic and advanced training opportunities, some of which even cover areas beyond the cruise industry itself.

Service standards
We encourage our employees to act proactively so that we can surpass our guests’ expectations in 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.

Safety around the clock: the Fleet Operations Center (FOC) at our Hamburg facility supervises and advises the nautical officers and captains in our fleet 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Performance and talent management
Our performance management system helps us to recognize the skills and accomplishments of our employees, to promote their strengths and to agree on 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 as preparation for management roles.