The ATC Professional Maritime Safety Management Systems Certification Scheme has been developed in line with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code for ships, to provide auditor training and certification for the marine industry.
The ISM code is designed to ensure safety at sea, prevent injury or loss of life and avoid damage to the marine environment. The code was created by the International Maritime Organization in 1993 and became mandatory in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
You must already have successfully completed the QMS Lead Auditor training course to be eligible for certification in this scheme.
Maritime auditors are certified to operate only within the marine sector (and not as a general quality management systems auditor, or within any other sector environment).
Scheme specific (additional) requirements
Auditors are required to demonstrate the following knowledge and competencies:
Work experience
Auditors must have four years’ work experience in any of the positions below:
Note 1: Sea time is most important, and ATC Professional will not only review qualifications and work experience but also records of sea-time experience, so please make sure this is made clear in their application.
Note 2: Experience as a cargo surveyor, shipbuilder, ship designer, ship repairer or a ship inspector is not acceptable.
Academic qualifications
Applicants are expected to hold at least one of the following:
Auditor training
Audit experience
Auditor
A minimum of five audits, consisting of a maximum of four against the ISM code for the issue of the Ship’s Safety Management Certificate, and a maximum of two audits for the purpose of issuing the Document of Compliance for the shipping company.
Applicants shall state on their audit log which certificate has been issued for each audit, and further details of a minimum of five audits shall be included on the Supplementary Audit log form (ATC Professional/150).
Lead Auditor
A minimum of a further five audits (in addition to those specified above) as team leader, leading a team of two or more auditors. The overall total of 10 audits shall include one audit (as team leader) for issuing the Document of Compliance to a company managing a minimum of 10 vessels, or include two audits (as team leader) for issuing the Document of Compliance for companies managing less than 10 vessels.
Renewal of certification
The generic requirements for renewal of certification apply, although all qualifying audits shall have been performed against a management system that includes all the elements of the ISM code. In addition to the ATC Professional audit log, all auditors are required to complete the ATC Professional/150 Supplementary Maritime (ISM) audit log form for each audit claimed.
The maritime scheme is based on the following key document:
ISM Code: The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (latest issue).
Guidance on who this scheme is intended for
Maritime auditors, such as those employed by:
Maritime practitioners, such as:
Employees conducting ISM code audits within their own organisation, i.e.: