By the way, we are specialists in internal auditing.


But what about the external audit? Do not hide it ... behind the external audit, there is still something of a scam! The principle of auditing was invented by the ISO standard - you are compliant with the standard or you are not, but please find the solution by yourself to conform! This philosophy of external compliance auditing allows auditors who are not familiar with the job at all, to conduct an external audit that is often traumatic for the auditee because there is a tremendous need for the necessary certification (ISM and ISPS). Finally there is no need for a university diploma to follow a checklist like they do. The results are often a discussion between « carpet traders » on the number and level of nonconformities that often boils down to inaccuracies in a text or procedure (in our jargon this is also called « misplaced comma syndrome »). This does not help the shipping company despite the pre-audit formal statements meeting, but just a question of results! In the marine industry, the ISM or ISPS external auditors are trained as ISO auditors and the result is just as uncertain.


Seafarers, who are generally very practical people, consider these external audits as end-of-year exams to be passed - we pass or we don’t pass ; so they treat these audits with suspicion. They wonder how this « land lubber » thinks he can teach me my job. To solve this problem, we therefore “invented” the business of the


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ISM consultant which, even if he comes from outside the company, can carry out an internal audit of compliance with the reference to the ISM code and the joint IMO guidelines (like an external auditor) ; but in addition he will propose corrective actions resulting from his own experience as well as improvement actions adapted to the Company. In addition, the consultant cannot ignore the transmission of knowledge, so we conduct our consultancy within the framework of a continuous training of the auditees according to their responsibilities in safety at the company level and on board its ships. To conclude, our contracts are roughly 50% audit and recommendations, and 50% training of staff, designated persons and managers.


Of course in the case of training the CEO, we must not speak about training. Rather we phrase it as information or coaching ... it’s the same thing but it’s more politically correct! Finally in this job, very little is practiced finally. The term diagnosis is not often used. We offer both the diagnosis and the treatment more like a visit to the “ISM doctor”.


Finally, it is actually very simple: a specialised auditor comes from outside the company to carry out an internal audit ... which will be recorded as a company internal audit (ref : as you know, this is an obligation from §12 of the ISM code and § 9.8 / 16.13 of the ISPS code).


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Yes the key is written in that statement. Whether it is in safety, in security, in environmental practices or in quality (customer satisfaction) our actions as a consultant are to initiate and put in place the tools of evolution of an internal culture within the company so that the staff can even transpose it to their personal lives! Yes, all of this is ideal but the reality is not quite so cosy. Always I hear from the managers « too expensive ».


Indeed the everyday battle on the funds allocated to safety within the company falls also hard on the shoulders of the consultant! In this business there are unfortunately still “gangsters” who operate poor ships under exotic flags with crews with limited skills ; but obviously having at the same time all the necessary certificates from the biggest certification companies or flags that are clearly on the IMO white list and still pass from one port to another without too much trouble! Except that one day when the troubles accumulate and the ship is retained at berth to the despair of the Port Captain, the shipowner cannot be found or does not care and the flag Administration is never sued. So then what can we do?


INNOVATION The last indispensable quality for the ISM consultant is innovation. High level experts in a specific field, we innovate constantly. In safety management and


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