An audit is a verification of compliance with the ISM code.

The audits must be

carried out by the shipping companies for each vessel they are managing. Vessels
undergo inspections and examinations of systems onboard to ensure compliance with
requirements. The ISM code audit must be condunted at least every 12 months.
The audits cannot be carried out by superintendents of the company, this is because
they will tend to not highlight any shortcoming in the system. The audits are
carried out by personnel independent of the areas being audited.The chief engineers
part in all of this is to prepare the vessel for inspection, he must make sure
everything is in order.
The audit main criteria are TMSA 3 requirements, the VIQ7 standards and the
Industry’s Best Practices in combination with the feedback received from other
similar audits.
The importance of marine audits in any nautical undertaking cannot be overstated.
Regulatory compliance is required for shipping, drilling, pipeline projects, and
oil and gas exploration. Maritime audits, whether undertaken internally or
externally, demand meticulous attention to detail. Carrying out internal and
external audits verify that ships and shore organizations follow the
responsibilities and objectives detailed in the Safety Management System