BALTIC YACHTS’ PALMA SERVICE & REFIT GAINS ISO9001 QUALITY MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE & DNV SHOP APPROVAL FOR LAMINATION FACILITY

Baltic Yachts’ Service and Refit operation in Palma de Mallorca has been awarded DNV (Det Norske Veritas) ISO9001 Quality Management certification and also DNV Shop Approval for Composites for the recently opened facility in the Son Castelló district of the city. This follows a year-long project undertaken by Baltic Yachts’ Head of Quality and Sustainability, Pamela Honga.

The new 800m² multi-department workshop, which can laminate large structures for almost any requirement on yachts, is thought to be the only facility of its type on the island of Mallorca with a DNV Approval of Manufacturers (AoM) certificate.

Pamela Honga, who moved to Palma de Mallorca for a year with her family from Finland specifically to prepare the Palma operation for certification, said that initially ISO 9001 Quality Management System was the main aim. “We achieved that in April this year and I am delighted that, following inspections, we now have shop approval, or AoM, from DNV,” said Pamela.

She said that the intention was to implement the processes which Baltic already have in Finland. “This has established the Baltic Quality ‘label’ which provides reassurance for our clients as much in Palma as it does in Finland,” added Pamela.

Pamela Honga said that she will now be working on achieving further ISO certification in Palma to cover health and safety and environment again matching those held by the Finnish company.

Baltic Yachts’ Service and Refit operation in Palma recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary with a party and presentation in the Son Castelló facility. With a staff of more than 40 it has built an excellent reputation for top quality service, refit and guardianage. A key factor in this success has been a programme of worker exchange between Finland and Palma enabling a transfer of skills.

Pamela Honga – From boat cleaner to Head of Quality and Sustainability

With quality a cornerstone of Baltic Yachts’ success, the need to set and maintain standards across the business is paramount. It is Pamela Honga’s responsibility to not only see that those standards are maintained and updated, but also to manage the demands of the growing need for sustainability within the company.

Pamela’s first job with Baltic Yachts was as a 17-year-old summer worker in 2005. She joined as a boat cleaner and worked on Pink Gin V. “I knew every nook and cranny of that boat and of course she remains my favourite Baltic!” said Pamela, who added that getting to know boats in real detail would stand her in good stead for what was to come later in her career.

Born and brought up in Kokkola, Pamela undertook vocational training in business studies before going on to gain a BA in business management. In between her demanding job and looking after two children, William 6, and Vanessa 2, she has also embarked on a master’s degree.

After her boat cleaning experience, Pamela joined Baltic on an internship in the finance department and then in 2010 took a fulltime job with the company handling finance, payroll and customs.

Two years later she applied for a role in what was then called the Lifecycle Service department, which was later renamed Baltic Yachts Service and Refit, and in 2014 she played a key role in setting up the Palma de Mallorca Service and Refit operation. Within two years she was appointed Head of Service and Refit.

When she returned to work following the birth of her first child, Pamela was appointed to her current role. With her second maternity leave coming to an end, she and her husband Jonas moved with their children to Palma de Mallorca where they lived for a year while Pamela concentrated on establishing ISO 9001 and DNV classification for the Palma Service and Refit operation. She succeeded in both tasks before returning to Finland.

How did she find Mallorca? “Very hot – it was their hottest summer for 50 years but it was a great experience for the whole family! Jonas did some pre-school home schooling for William who learned to read and both children learned to swim. Jonas says he doesn’t think he wants to become a teacher…”

Now back in Finland, Pamela manages quality groups representing all departments from electricians and engineers to laminators and wood workers. “We try to get a holistic view of quality across the business – it’s important and very useful to ‘cross borders’ between departments for ideas,” said Pamela.

Keeping on top of ISO certification is vital with regular audits required and inspections every third year. Pamela is also embarking on an extensive two-year project on sustainability for Baltic Yachts which will involve how to extract data, setting out a sustainability plan for the business including the yachts themselves and then publishing results alongside other companies.

But first – summer holidays which are likely to be spent at home this year, “with of course visits to our summer cottage,” she added.