Marine assurance

At RPS, our inspectors use an effective analysis approach which delves beneath the superficial responses to the inspection questions to develop a true and deeper understanding of the risk. Their vessel specific experience is key to confirming if a procedure is appropriate for that vessel or equipment. This includes assessing the risk and any associated extensions on maintenance certificates they may place on the vessels’ health or performance. The evaluation of the adoption of health and safety policies, through crew interviews, reveal a truer picture of the HSE risk being taken on than checklists and reports can accurately provide.

We focus on the effectiveness of control measures. Most inspections, because of time pressure, will check that a procedure is in place and will give a tick if a procedure is cited.

Company Management System audits review the company’s entire Safety Management System from management to operations. Further verification that these systems are functioning and operating as outlined in the company’s policy manual and associated documentation is part of our auditing process.

We specialise in paying attention to the details that can easily get overlooked. For example, is the vessel or unit free of conditions of class or recommendations, visas, memoranda or notations? It is common and legal for vessel operators to get an extension for these certificates and to get re-certified when they go into drydock, however, these extensions are often not flagged in inspection reports. The client company that has commissioned the report could well accept a vessel without knowledge of the risks involved in having these certificates extended. Our inspectors flag any extensions to certificates of class in the inspection report.