Hoegh Lines - Open Hatch received quality system certificate /28 Nov 2001/

Hoegh Lines - Open Hatch (HLOH) received on 28 June, 2001, Quality System Certificate from Det Norske Veritas. The Certificate conforms to the Quality System Standard NS-EN ISO 9002, 1994 and covers all the commercial and operational tasks handled by the HLOH organization in Oslo.

It has been a very useful process for the organization to go through and analyze all functions, tasks and responsibilities withing HLOH. The work processes within each department are now described in the Quality Manual. In order to facilitate the use of the manual it will soon be made available electronically. Although everyone in HLOH has been busy with the ordinary day to day work, they have all taken part in the certification process with the substantial extra burden of work involved. It has been inspiring to observe the enthusiasm shown by all over a long period to achieve the goal - the Certificate. Erling Andersson (Senior Marketing & Quality Manager) and Ellen Walberg (Claims & Quality Document Manager) have been in charge of the process.

The Certificate was officially handed over to HLOH by Geir Thorseng, Lead Auditor of Det Norske Veritas, during a lunch on 27 August.

HLOH has reached an important milestone, but we cannot rest because fulfillment of conditions and continuous improvement lie ahead.

HLOH's main goal is to deliver a continuously better product to our valued customers. If we are able to do that, then we can conclude that the main purpose of the Quality System Certificate is obtained.

Hoegh Lines - Open Hatch (HLOH) activities in a nutshell

HLOH is operating a total of 11 open hatch gantry craned bulk vessels whereof 10 are fully owned by LHC. These vessels are specially designed to carry forest products, container and other unitized cargo as well as regular bulk parcels.

HLOH renewed the contract with Arauco - the largest forest products company in Chile - until end 2004. This implies that HLOH will be carrying wood-pulp, lumber and panels from Chile to countries in the Mediterranean region (including Casablanca) and North Europe in the coming years. The vessels carry a wide mixture of break-bulk and bulk cargoes on the return leg. 3 vessels have been employed in this trade since the start up in 1999. However, we are currently evaluating whether we should add a 4th vessel as from 2002.

LHOH operates through its subsidiary Pacific Commerce Line (PCL) in Vancouver, B.C. 3 vessels in the lumber trade from the West Coast of North America to the Far East. On the return leg these vessels are loading mainly steel products.

Two of the vessels are employed in a joint Pool between HLOH and Companhia Navegacao Norsul, Rio de Janeiro (owned principally by the Erling Lorentzen family) carrying mainly forest products and frozen orange juice from Brazil and Argentina to North Europe, and various break-bulk and bulk cargoes on the return leg. The daily management of the Pool is handled by Norsul.

3 of the vessels are currently chartered out to other operators.

Hoegh Lines, Jostein Bomstad.