Delegation of authority by a flag State to an organization
shall be subject to the confirmation of the capability of that organization
to demonstrate that it has the capacity to deliver high standards
of service and its compliance with the requirements of this Code and
applicable national legislation.
2.2
Rules and regulations
The RO shall establish, publish and systematically maintain
its rules or regulations, a version of which shall be provided in
the English language, for the design, construction and certification
of ships and their associated essential engineering systems as well
as provide for adequate research capability to ensure appropriate
updating of the published criteria.
The RO and its staff shall not engage in any activities
that may conflict with their independence of judgement and integrity
in relation to their statutory certification and services. The RO
and its staff responsible for carrying out the statutory certification
and services shall not be the designer, manufacturer, supplier, installer,
purchaser, owner, user or maintainer of the item subject to the statutory
certification and services, nor the authorized representative of any
of these parties. The RO shall not be substantially dependent on a
single commercial enterprise for its revenue.
2.4.1 The personnel of ROs shall be free from
any pressures, which might affect their judgement in performing statutory
certification and services. Procedures shall be implemented to prevent
persons or organizations external to the organization from influencing
the results of services carried out.
2.4.2 All potential customers shall have access
to statutory certification and services provided by the RO without
undue financial or other conditions. The procedures under which the
RO operates shall be administered in a non-discriminatory manner.
The RO shall be governed by the principles of ethical behaviour,
which shall be contained in a Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics shall
recognize the inherent responsibility associated with a delegation
of authority to include assurance of adequate performance of services.
The RO shall perform statutory certification and services
by the use of competent surveyors and auditors who are duly qualified,
trained and authorized to execute all duties and activities incumbent
upon their employer, within their level of work responsibility.
The RO shall define and document the responsibilities, authorities,
qualifications and interrelation of personnel whose work affects the
quality of its services.
2.8.1 Transparency reflects the principle of access
to, or disclosure of, all information related to the statutory certification
and services carried out by the RO on behalf of a flag State.
2.8.2 The ROs shall communicate information to
the flag State as described in the section on communication/cooperation
with the flag State.
2.8.3 Information concerning the status of ships
certified by ROs shall be made available to the public.