The International Safety Management Code (ISM) requires shipping companies to have procedures in place to conduct internal and external audits to ensure that both the ship and the shore-based organisation are doing what is documented in the safety management system.

By conducting internal SMS audits, companies measure the effectiveness of their own systems. Internal SMS or ISM audits are potentially more important than external audits in monitoring the effectiveness of the system, as the companies have more to gain or lose if the system fails than the external auditors. The company, its employees, shipmasters, officers and crews ‘own’ the SMS system and have a direct interest in ensuring that it is effective. Therefore, the internal SMS audit representing these interests should be at least as thorough as the external SMS audit, if not more so.

At Kensa, we are committed to ensuring that seafarers strictly adhere to the requirements of ISM, ISPS and MLC. Our inspectors are highly trained to ensure that there is a comprehensive audit process on board that covers SMS compliance.

Kensa performs the following audits and training:

1. Third Party ISM Audit Verification
2. Third Party MLC Audit Verification
3. Third Party ISPS Audit Verification
4. Environmental audits such as ECP MARPOL and ECP navigation audits
5. Training on ECDIS
6. Internal Audits
7. Navigation Audit
8. Miscellaneous audits on behalf of owners related to ISM ISPS and MLC

These audits are conducted on behalf of operators/owners and our inspection scope covers an extensive area within the SMS and industry best practice. 

We conduct these audits on behalf of vessel managers and/or operators to verify the practical effectiveness of the implementation of ISM on board vessels. We also conduct various other independent Marine Order 32 compliance reviews and navigation audits.