Rule 39 opens Part F — Verification of compliance with the provisions of the Convention, added by IMO Resolution A.1085(28) and in force since 1 January 2016. It defines four terms:
- Audit: a systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which audit criteria are fulfilled.
- Audit Scheme: the IMO Member State Audit Scheme established by the Organization.
- Code for Implementation: the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) adopted by Resolution A.1070(28).
- Audit standard: the Code for Implementation itself.
Part F does not change any steering, lights or sound-signal rule — it addresses how flag States are audited on their implementation of the Convention.
Key Takeaways
1
Part F (Rules 39–41) is about auditing States, not manoeuvring vessels
2
The audit standard is the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code)
3
Added by Resolution A.1085(28), in force 1 January 2016
Common Mistakes
Expecting Part F to contain navigation rules — it only covers compliance auditing
Confusing the III Code with the COLREG rules themselves
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