orange and white ship on sea during daytime

ISM, ISPS & MLC 2006 AUDITS IN SPAIN

Independent maritime compliance audits for shipowners, ship managers and Flag Administrations covering the ISM Code, ISPS Code and Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

VALENCIA Marine Services provides independent audit attendance for commercial vessels and shipping companies requiring verification of their safety management, ship security and maritime labour compliance arrangements.

Assignments may be performed as an internal audit or independent compliance review commissioned directly by the shipowner or ship manager, or as an audit performed on behalf of a Flag Administration where the appropriate written authorisation or appointment has been issued.

The audit scope is defined according to the applicable Code or Convention, vessel type, company procedures, Flag Administration instructions and purpose of the appointment.

REQUEST A MARITIME AUDIT

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INTERNAL AUDIT FOR SHIPOWNER OR SHIP MANAGER

An internal or independent company audit may be commissioned directly by a shipowner, ship manager or vessel operator.

The purpose may include:

Verification of onboard compliance
Verification of company procedures
Internal ISM audit
Internal ISPS audit
MLC 2006 compliance review
Pre-audit assessment
Gap analysis
Preparation for an external or statutory audit
Verification of corrective actions
Follow-up of previous non-conformities
Preparation following PSC deficiencies

An internal audit does not represent an official Flag State audit and does not require VALENCIA Marine Services to act on behalf of the Flag Administration.

The report is issued to the appointing company in accordance with the agreed scope.

people riding on red and white boat during daytime

AUDIT ON BEHALF OF A FLAG ADMINISTRATION

VALENCIA Marine Services also welcomes enquiries from Flag Administrations and International Ship Registries requiring qualified local audit attendance in Spain.

An audit represented as being performed on behalf of a Flag Administration requires the appropriate written authorisation, appointment or delegation from the competent Administration.

The Flag Administration determines the authorised scope, applicable checklist, reporting procedure, level of authority, documentation requirements and recipient of the final report.

Where no such authorization exists, the assignment can only be treated as an independent or internal compliance audit.

ISM CODE AUDITS

The International Safety Management Code establishes an international framework for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.

An ISM audit evaluates whether the Safety Management System is implemented effectively and whether shipboard and, where applicable, shore-based activities follow the company’s documented SMS procedures.

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ISM INTERNAL AUDIT

The shipowner or ship management company may commission an independent ISM internal audit to verify implementation of the Safety Management System.

Depending on the agreed scope, the audit may review:

Safety Management System documentation
Company safety and environmental policies
Master’s responsibilities and authority
Company and shipboard responsibilities
Communication with the Designated Person Ashore
Operational procedures
Emergency preparedness
Maintenance procedures
Reporting of accidents and non-conformities
Corrective and preventive actions
Crew familiarisation and training
Drills and emergency exercises
Controlled documentation
Records required by the SMS
Previous audit findings
Corrective-action follow-up

The audit may cover the vessel, the company office or both, as specifically agreed.

a tug boat pulling a large container ship

ISM PRE-AUDIT & GAP ANALYSIS

An ISM pre-audit can be conducted before an external, Flag State, or Recognised Organisation audit.

The objective is to identify potential weaknesses before the formal audit.

The resulting report may classify findings as:

Non-conformities
Observations
Potential compliance gaps
Documentation deficiencies
Implementation deficiencies
Corrective actions required

The terminology used can be adapted to the shipowner’s Safety Management System.

A utility boat travels across choppy water

FLAG-AUTHORIZED ISM AUDITS

Where a Flag Administration requires audit attendance in Spain, VALENCIA Marine Services can review the requested assignment and confirm availability.

Any audit carried out formally on behalf of a Flag Administration is subject to the specific authorization and instructions issued by that Administration.

VALENCIA Marine Services does not represent an internal audit as a statutory ISM certification audit.

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ISPS CODE AUDITS

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code establishes the international framework for maritime security under SOLAS.

An ISPS audit evaluates whether the ship’s security arrangements are being implemented in accordance with the approved security framework and applicable company procedures.

Security-sensitive information is handled on a restricted and need-to-know basis.

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ISPS INTERNAL AUDIT

An internal ISPS audit may evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the ship security arrangements within the agreed audit scope.

Areas reviewed may include:

Ship security responsibilities
Company Security Officer responsibilities
Ship Security Officer responsibilities
Implementation of security procedures
Access-control arrangements
Restricted-area controls
Security levels and associated procedures
Security drills and exercises
Crew security awareness
Security records
Security communications
Testing and maintenance records for relevant security equipment
Previous security-related deficiencies
Corrective-action follow-up

The audit focuses on compliance and implementation and does not disclose sensitive security information beyond the authorised recipients.

ISPS CONFIDENTIALITY

Ship security documentation may contain security-sensitive information.

Do not transmit the full Ship Security Plan through a general public website contact form.

If you need to review security-sensitive documentation, agree on an appropriate secure method of document exchange directly with the appointing company or Flag Administration.

black ship on sea under blue sky during daytime

FLAG-AUTHORIZED ISPS AUDITS

Official ISPS verification or audit attendance performed on behalf of a Flag Administration requires formal authorisation or appointment from the competent Administration.

The Administration determines the extent of authorisation and reporting requirements.

Independent ISPS internal audits commissioned by shipowners or managers remain separate from statutory verification.

red and white ship on sea under gray sky

MLC 2006 AUDITS & COMPLIANCE REVIEWS

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 establishes international requirements concerning seafarers’ working and living conditions.

VALENCIA Marine Services can provide independent MLC 2006 compliance reviews for shipowners and ship managers and may consider official inspection assignments where appropriately authorised by the relevant Flag Administration.

INTERNAL MLC 2006 COMPLIANCE AUDIT

For shipowners and managers, an internal MLC compliance review can help identify potential deficiencies before a Flag State, Recognised Organisation or Port State inspection.

Depending on the vessel and scope, the review may include:

Maritime Labour Certificate documentation
Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance
Seafarers’ employment agreements
Crew documentation
Hours of work and rest
Payment and wage documentation
Accommodation condition
Food and catering arrangements
Medical care
Health and safety arrangements
Accident-prevention procedures
Onboard complaint procedures
Repatriation arrangements
Recruitment and placement documentation where applicable
Previous MLC-related deficiencies
Corrective actions

An internal MLC review is an independent compliance assessment and is not itself a statutory MLC inspection or certification

FLAG-AUTHORIZED MLC 2006 INSPECTION

Official MLC inspection and certification functions fall under the responsibility of the relevant Flag State and any organisations or inspectors properly authorised by that Administration.

VALENCIA Marine Services may consider individual MLC inspection assignments where a competent Flag Administration issues the necessary authorisation and defines the scope of the appointment.

Without such authorisation, the service is provided solely as an independent MLC compliance review or pre-inspection audit.

COMBINED ISM, ISPS & MLC AUDIT

Where appropriate, several compliance areas may be reviewed during the same vessel attendance.

A combined assignment may include:

ISM internal audit
ISPS internal audit
MLC 2006 compliance review
PSC deficiency follow-up
Corrective-action verification

The audit documentation still identifies the different regulatory areas separately.

A combined audit can reduce duplicated vessel attendance while maintaining separate findings and compliance criteria for each applicable framework.

FLAG ADMINISTRATION AUDIT REPORTING

Where VALENCIA Marine Services is formally appointed by a Flag Administration, reporting follows the Administration’s instructions.

The authorisation should identify, where applicable:

Vessel concerned
Type of audit
Scope of authorisation
Applicable requirements
Reporting format
Administration reference
Authorized recipient
Any limitations on the appointment

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AUDITS AT SPANISH PORTS

VALENCIA Marine Services provides maritime audit attendance at commercial ports throughout Spain.

Regular geographical coverage includes:

Valencia
Sagunto
Castellón
Alicante
Cartagena
Tarragona
Barcelona
Algeciras

Attendance at other Spanish ports and shipyards may also be considered according to vessel location, audit scope and auditor availability

QUALIFIED MARINE PROFESSIONAL IN SPAIN

Carlos Montamarta is a Naval Architect & Marine Engineer with more than 20 years of professional experience in marine surveying, ship inspection and marine engineering.

His assignments combine practical commercial-vessel inspection experience with technical expertise in ship operations, marine machinery, ship structures, safety management, technical documentation and compliance verification.

VALENCIA Marine Services welcomes audit enquiries from shipowners, ship managers, vessel operators, Flag Administrations and International Ship Registries requiring professional maritime audit attendance in Spain.

INDEPENDENT • DISCREET • PROFESSIONAL

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IMPORTANT AUTHORIZATION NOTICE

VALENCIA Marine Services clearly distinguishes between independent audits commissioned by shipowners or ship managers and audits performed under the authority of a Flag Administration.

An internal audit or independent compliance review does not imply Flag State authorisation.

VALENCIA Marine Services does not represent itself as an authorised auditor, Recognised Organisation, Recognised Security Organisation or representative of any Flag Administration unless the appropriate valid authorisation or appointment exists for the relevant assignment.

Where authorisation is required, written confirmation must be received before the audit is represented or performed as an official Flag Administration assignment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN YOU PERFORM AN INTERNAL ISM AUDIT FOR A SHIPOWNER?

Independent ISM internal audit requests can be considered for vessels and ship management companies, subject to review of the required scope, audit criteria and applicable auditor qualification and independence requirements.

IS FLAG STATE AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED FOR AN INTERNAL AUDIT?

No Flag State appointment is required merely to perform an independent internal or pre-audit review commissioned by a shipowner or ship manager.

The audit must not, however, be represented as an official Flag State or statutory certification audit.

WHEN IS FLAG ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED?

Authorisation is required whenever VALENCIA Marine Services is expected to perform or represent an audit as being carried out officially on behalf of the Flag Administration.

CAN YOU AUDIT MLC 2006 COMPLIANCE?

Yes. Independent MLC 2006 compliance reviews can be performed for shipowners and managers.

Official Flag State MLC inspection or certification functions require the appropriate Administration authorisation.

CAN YOU PERFORM AN ISPS INTERNAL AUDIT?

Yes, subject to the agreed scope and applicable auditor independence requirements.

We handle security-sensitive documentation under appropriate confidentiality arrangements.

CAN ISM, ISPS AND MLC BE AUDITED DURING THE SAME ATTENDANCE?

Yes, where the scope, vessel schedule and available time permit.

Each regulatory framework should remain separately identified in the audit records and findings.

CAN YOU REVIEW PREVIOUS PSC DEFICIENCIES?

Yes. You can consider previous PSC findings where relevant to the ISM, ISPS, or MLC compliance review.

DO YOU ISSUE DOC, SMC, ISSC OR MARITIME LABOUR CERTIFICATES?

An independent or internal audit does not issue statutory certification.

Any statutory certification function requires specific authority from the competent Administration.

CAN YOU FOLLOW UP ON PREVIOUS NON-CONFORMITIES?

Yes. Follow-up attendance can verify the implementation and evidence of agreed-upon corrective actions.

CAN YOU ATTEND ON SHORT NOTICE?

Urgent assignments may be considered subject to vessel location, documentation availability, audit scope and auditor availability.

CAN YOU ATTEND VESSELS OUTSIDE VALENCIA?

Yes. Audit attendance can be considered at commercial ports and shipyards throughout Spain.

NEED A MARINE SURVEYOR IN SPAIN?

Independent marine surveying services for shipowners, operators, charterers, insurers and maritime stakeholders throughout Spain.

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VALENCIA Marine Services SLU

Independent marine surveying, vessel inspection, maritime auditing and technical consultancy services for commercial vessels in Spain.