The International Maritime Organization (IMO) audited Finland’s maritime administration at the turn of October and November. The IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) allows the IMO, which runs under the UN, to ensure that its Member States fulfil their commitments to international maritime conventions.
The audit focused on several conventions, such as SOLAS, COLREG, LL, and STCW. The audit team's task was to verify that these international maritime regulations have been implemented in national law and that they are enforced and monitored. The auditors also checked whether Finland’s maritime administration is organised and able to operate and respond appropriately.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications established a coordination group for the audit, and its work will be continued by a maritime administration review group that will convene regularly. The group will be led by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
Deviations and development targets to be addressed immediately
The IMO’s auditors examined Finland’s maritime administration between 28 October and 4 November. Their audit revealed 5 deviations and 2 development areas, and they also separately highlighted one improvement. All in all, the auditors praised the participants for a successful and efficient audit.
Next, Finland’s maritime administration, under the leadership of the coordination and review group, will carry out root cause analyses of the observations received and plan the necessary corrective action plans (CAPs). The results of the root cause analyses and the CAPs must be submitted to the IMO within three months.
IMSAS promotes and upholds responsible maritime operations
IMSAS is the IMO’s tool for ensuring that individual Member States operate in accordance with international maritime regulations. As a responsible and reliable maritime state, Finland is strongly committed to the audit framework and its development. Finland is also interested in extending its term in the IMO Council.
Finland’s maritime administration considered the audit a worthy exercise, especially as it placed particular emphasis on the description work related to the maritime administration’s responsibilities and actors, which is a necessity for preparedness.
Deviations and development areas highlighted by the auditors
FD1 - Reporting to IMO (scope and processes)
FD2 - Administrative interpretations / the satisfaction of the administration (coverage, availability)
FD3 - Flag State vessel inspections / periodic inspections (methodology, volume)
FD4 - Skill and competence requirements for maritime officials who support inspectors (documentation, specification)
FD5 - Non-implementation of retrospective evaluation of traffic separation scheme - Åland Sea TSS (process, performance)
AFD 1 - Harmonisation of maritime policies and maritime administration policies (objectives, coverage)
AFD 2 - Weight control and inspection of containers (volume)
ADR 1 - a clear improvement could be observed in the implementation of IMO conventions in national legislation, compared to the voluntary VIMSAS conducted 11 years ago.
The audit featured interviews with specialists and included participants from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the ELY Centre for Uusimaa, the Finnish Border Guard, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Fintraffic, the Ministry of the Interior Department for Rescue Services, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Safety Investigation Authority of Finland, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Traficom, and the Ministry of the Environment. The audit also included visits to the Finnish Border Guard, Fintraffic, and Vuosaari Harbour.
Enquiries:
Hanna Suutarla, Senior Specialist, +358 29 534 7356, hanna.suutarla@traficom.fi