An internal ISM Code audit service is a First party audit conducted on a process or set of processes by one of our qualified auditor to ensure that a QMS on board a vessel has been implemented in a satisfactory manner and meet the organizations internal requirements and the ISM Code, and international law, rules and regulations. Internal audits allow the company to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company`s Quality Management System.
Our organization offer this service in an independent basis or under the harmonized internal audit service, providing qualified auditors to perform this task and performing the job under a controlled process activity through a continuous communication practice where our attending auditor is in permanent communication with our technical department. Our auditors have the responsibility for complying with the applicable requirements, communication and clarifying the non-conformity to the Company or ship immediately, reporting the audit results clearly, conclusively and without undue delay.
About the ISM Code
The ISM Code (which came in force in July 1998) has been added to a new Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention (Safety of Life at Sea), and has been titled as “The Management Code”, and known as The International Management Code of the Safety Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention. The purpose of the ISM Code is “to provide an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention”. Everyone, ashore and on board must face both internal audits and external audits to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the ISM Code. Internal ISM Code audits verify that company procedures are being utilized on board and the results provide a comprehensive tool to determine the safety culture and safety behavior on board.
Why Internal ISM Code Audits must be performed
Clause 12.1 of the ISM Code states that “The Company should carry out internal safety audits on board and ashore at intervals not exceeding twelve months to verify whether safety and pollution-prevention activities comply with the safety management system. In exceptional circumstance, this interval may be exceeded by not more than three months”.
Effectiveness of implementation and verification of the efficiency of a harmonize maritime management system (HSEQ) requires periodical internal audits. The approach and scope of an audit differs widely from an inspection. The first part of the auditing process resembles an inspection activity (verification of compliance and identification of non-conformity).