Mandatory Audit Visit of IMO - IMSAS Member States

IMO’s main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally implemented, and that promotes safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping. However, the benefits from such a regulatory framework can only be fully achieved when all Member States carry out their obligations as required by the instruments to which they are Parties.

Member States have the primary responsibility to establish and maintain an adequate and effective system to discharge their obligations as flag, port and/or coastal States emanating from applicable international law. IMO can assist Member States to improve their capabilities and overall performance in order for them to fully comply with the IMO instruments to which they are Parties.

The IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) commenced as a voluntary Scheme in 2006 and became a treaty obligation in January 2016. It aims to promote the consistent and effective implementation of applicable IMO instruments and to assist Member States to improve their capabilities, whilst contributing to the enhancement of global and individual Member State's overall performance in compliance with the requirements of the instruments to which it is a Party.

The audit scheme, using the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) as the audit standard, aims to provide an audited Member State with a comprehensive and objective assessment of how effectively it administers and implements those mandatory IMO instruments which are covered by the Scheme.

Audits under the Scheme became mandatory on 1 January 2016, when the majority of amendments to IMO instruments, adopted for the institutionalization of the Scheme, entered into force. For the institutionalization of the Scheme the following IMO instruments were amended:

the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 1974) (resolution MSC.366(93)).

the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW 1978) (resolution MSC.373(93))

the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW Code) (resolution MSC.374(93)).

the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol), as amended (resolution MSC.375(93))

the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 1972) (resolution A.1085(28)).

the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL 1966) (resolution A.1083(28)).

the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (TONNAGE 1969), (resolution A.1084(28)).

the Annex of the Protocol of 1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (resolution MEPC.246(66)).

Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, as Modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (resolution MEPC.247(66)).

In accordance with the above amendments, each Member State, as a Contracting Government or Party, is responsible to facilitate the conduct of the audits and implement a programme of actions to address the findings, based on the guidelines adopted by the Organization (i.e. resolution A.1067(28) on the Framework and Procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (Framework and Procedures)). The Secretary-General of the Organization is vested with the responsibility for administering the audit scheme.

Audits of Member States are organized and implemented through a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. The certified quality management system ensures that audits and all related activities are performed in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and universality; consistency, fairness, objectivity and timeliness; transparency and disclosure; cooperation and continual improvement; as stipulated in the Framework and Procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, established by Member States.

Information from https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/MSAS/Pages/Default.aspx