1.1
Recognized organization (RO) means
an organization that has been assessed by a flag State, and found
to comply with this part of the RO Code.
1.2
Authorization means the delegation
of authority to an RO to perform statutory certification and services
on behalf of a flag State as detailed in an agreement or equivalent
legal arrangement taking into account the " Elements to be included
in an Agreement" as set out in appendix 3 of this Code.
1.3
Statutory certification and services means
certificates issued, and services provided, on the authority of laws,
rules and regulations set down by the Government of a sovereign State.
This includes plan review, survey, and/or audit leading to the issuance
of, or in support of the issuance of, a certificate by or on behalf
of a flag State as evidence of compliance with requirements contained
in an international convention or national legislation. This includes
certificates issued by an organization recognized by the flag State
in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS
regulation XI-1/1, and which may incorporate demonstrated compliance
with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of the
RO under the terms of its agreement of recognition with the flag State.
1.4
Assessment means any activity
to determine that the assessed entity fulfils the requirements of
the relevant rules and regulations.
1.5
Interested parties means any
person or legal entity who can demonstrate a justified interest in
the survey and certification process and includes, inter alia, clients
of the RO, shipowners, ship operators, shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers,
shipping industry interests or associations, marine insurance interests
or associations, trade associations, governmental regulatory bodies
or other governmental services and non-governmental organizations.
1.6
Location is a place from which
surveys are carried out and managed, or where plan approval is carried
out, or from which processes are managed.
1.7
Site is the place at which a
surveyor is based to cover a specific contract or a series of contracts
including; but not limited to, a port, shipyard, firm, and company.
All statutory certification and services at sites are to be controlled
by a location.
1.8
A Vertical Contract Audit (VCA) is
a contract/order specific audit of production processes, including
witnessing work during attendance at a survey, audit or plan approval
in progress and, as applicable, including relevant sub-processes.
A VCA is carried out at a location or a site (Survey Station/Approval
Office/Site) to verify the correct application of relevant requirements
in service realization for the specific work in that contract/order,
and their interactions (relevant sub-processes include e.g. previous
part surveys or UTM processes connected to the survey). Plan approval
VCA may be carried out for completed tasks.