IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS)

IMO’s main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally implemented, and that promotes safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping. However, the benefits from such a regulatory framework can only be fully achieved when all Member States carry out their obligations as required by the instruments to which they are Parties.

Member States have the primary responsibility to establish and maintain an adequate and effective system to discharge their obligations as flag, port and/or coastal States emanating from applicable international law. 

Palau International Ship Registry completed a successful external audit in November 2019 under the International Maritime Organization’s IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) without any major finding or non-conformity recorded against the operation of the registry and proved that the state (port state and flag state) fulfilled all their obligations coming from the mandatory IMO instruments.

The audit scheme, using the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) as the audit standard, aims to provide an audited Member State with a comprehensive and objective assessment of how effectively it administers and implements those mandatory IMO instruments which are covered by the Scheme.

The audits are conducted in accordance with the overall audit schedule and are planned, conducted, and reported on, through the MSA module in GISIS. Palau International Ship Registry regularly updates all modules in GISIS and reports all required information as appropriate.

Throughout the preparation, interviews, discussions and reviews which the audit scheme calls for, the Team of PISR demonstrated and cooperated with the IMO auditors so as to successfully complete the the entire audit process.