What is the III Code, and how does the IMO Member State Audit Scheme use it?
Short answer
| Part | Role | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | common areas | objective, strategy, the six subject areas, initial actions, records, continual improvement |
| 2 | flag State | legislation, resources, manning, delegation to and oversight of ROs, enforcement, casualty investigation, surveyors, self-evaluation |
| 3 | coastal State | radio, meteorological and search and rescue services, hydrography, routeing, reporting, VTS, aids to navigation |
| 4 | port State | reception facilities, port State control by qualified PSCOs, fuel-oil supplier register, no more favourable treatment |
- III Code: the IMO Instruments Implementation Code, A.1070(28) of 4 December 2013: the standard for how a State implements and enforces the mandatory IMO instruments; about the State, not the ship.
- Why: Governments must give conventions full and complete effect, but there was no yardstick; the Code provides it and the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) makes the audit mandatory.
- Part 1 common areas: objective, strategy, six subject areas (safety of life at sea, pollution, STCW, load lines, tonnage, collision regulations), initial actions, records, continual improvement.
- Part 2 flag States: legislation and resources, safe manning, delegation to and oversight of ROs, enforcement, casualty investigation, qualified surveyors, self-evaluation.
- Parts 3 and 4: coastal State services (radio, meteorological, search and rescue, hydrography, routeing, reporting, VTS, aids) and port State duties (reception facilities, PSC by qualified PSCOs, fuel-oil supplier register).
- As Chief Engineer: it underpins my ship’s certificates, the RO oversight behind class and the PSC regime; India is audited under IMSAS.
Full answer
The full answer explains each point step by step, with the regulations and figures behind it and the discussion from other candidates. It is in the MEO Class I section of the Marine One forum, open to members enrolled for the MEO Class I exam.