Difference Between Inspection, Audit, and Survey:

Answer

1. Inspection:

Inspection is a general examination to check the present condition, compliance, safety, housekeeping, operation, and readiness of the ship, machinery, crew, and documents.

Examples of inspection

• PSC inspection

• Flag State inspection

• Company superintendent inspection

• Vetting inspection

• Terminal safety inspection

• Pre-arrival inspection

• Internal shipboard safety inspection

Output of inspection

• Inspection report

• Deficiencies

• Observations

• Detention, if serious in PSC

• Corrective actions

• Follow-up / close-out

2. Audit:

audit is a systematic verification of a management system. It checks whether the SMS procedures are available, understood, followed and effective. Audit is based on objective evidence such as records, crew interview and physical verification.

In shipping, audit is mainly connected with:

• ISM Code

• SMS

• ISPS Code

• MLC

• Company management system

Audit checks

Audit checks whether:

• Procedure exists

• Crew knows the procedure

• Procedure is followed

• Records are maintained

• Non-conformities are reported

• Corrective actions are taken

• System is effective

Examples of audit

• Internal ISM audit onboard

• Internal ISM audit ashore

• External ISM audit for DOC

• External ISM audit for SMC

• ISPS audit

• MLC audit

Output of audit

• Audit report

• Non-conformity

• Major non-conformity

• Observation

• Corrective action request

• Root cause analysis

• Corrective and preventive action

• Verification of effectiveness

3. Survey: A technical examination of structural integrity, machinery tolerances, and system operations to ensure compliance with statutory laws or class rules for certificate endorsement (e.g., Annual Hull Survey).

Types of survey

Statutory survey

For certificates required by conventions, such as:

• Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate

• Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate

• Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate

• IOPP Certificate

• IAPP Certificate

• Load Line Certificate

• MLC Certificate

Class survey

For maintaining class, such as:

• Annual survey

• Intermediate survey

• Renewal / special survey

• Tail shaft survey

• Boiler survey

• Bottom survey / dry dock survey

• Continuous machinery survey

Output of survey

• Certificate issued

• Certificate endorsed

• Certificate renewed

• Condition of class

• Memorandum / recommendation

• Survey report

• Deficiency to be rectified before certificate endorsement