Answer
Part 3 of the RO Cod provides guidance on Flag state's Oversight of ROs authorized to perform statutory certification and services on its behalf. Part 3 also provides guidance on the principles of Oversight that may include ship inspection, Auditing, and monitoring activities.
Part 3 of the RO cod is applicable to all Flag states that have authorized ROs to perform statutory certification and services. Part 3 includes Flag state Oversight provisions and provides guidance, which is non-mandatory, to assist Flag states in the development and implementation of an effective Oversight programme of ROs.
Monitoring of ROs by Flag state:
The Flag state should establish or participate in an Oversight program with adequate resources for monitoring of, and communication with, its RO(s) in order to ensure that its international obligations are fully met, by:
1.exercising its authority to conduct supplementary surveys lo ensure that ships entitled to fly its flag in fact comply with the requirements of the applicable international instruments:)
2.conducting supplementary surveys as it deems necessary to ensure that ships entitled to fly its flag comply with national requirements, which Supplement the international mandatory requirements, and
3.providing staff who have a good knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Flag state and the ROs and who are available to carry out effective Oversight of the ROS.
Flag state's supervision of duties delegated to an RO :
The Flag state's supervision of duties delegated to an RO should consider, the following:
1.Documentation of the RO's quality management system;
2.access to Internal instructions, circulars and guidelines,
3.access to the RO's Documentation relevant to the Flag state's fleet;
4.cooperation with the Flag state's inspection and verification work; and
5.provision of information and statistics) such as, but not limited to, damage and casualties relevant to the Flag state's fleet.
Verification and monitoring
The Flag state should establish a system to ensure the adequacy of statutory certification and services provided by the RO.
RO should notify flag immediately in case of :
Situation involving a major deficiency.
Situation onboard a ship or company involving major NC
Dangerous occurences, accidents, machinery breakdowns, structural breakdowns that they are aware of on a ship.
Any removal from class along with the reason for removal within 30 days of the removal.
Q. How IMO oversees RO?(these were told by Rajiv sir)
1.IMO has an observer in the QSCS of IACS and RO as a Classification society is a member of IACS.
2.Through IMSAS Audits of the Flag states, the IMO can confirm if recognized ROs of that Flag state are carrying out the functions of surveys and certification as required by the RO cod.
3.MSC of IMO verifies and approves the GBS rules developed by Class (RO).
Who is reporting to IMO and how?
Flag states inform IMO through GISIS module “Recognized Organizations”- about the level of authorizations they have given to a particular RO to carry out statutory survey and certification functions on their behalf as per the MOU signed between them.
AUDITING PRINCIPLES
The Flag state should be satisfied that the RO has an effective quality management system in place. The Flag state may rely upon the Audits carried out by an accredited certification body or equivalent organizations. Vertical control Audits & Horizontal Audits. Audited on the following criteria :
• Ethical conduct
• Fair presentation
• Due professional care
• Independence
• Evidence based approach