As a professional mariner I am always looking for opportunities to learn more, do the job better, get training and experience.
I am looking into taking a class at Maine Maritime:
http://conted.mainemaritime.edu/index0665.html?class=626
Looking for opinions from other industry professionals. My first thought is that this training should help me to better prepare for audits aboard vessels I work on.
Thoughts?
Looks like an interesting course, but a little pricey if you aren’t getting into auditing yourself. You might be interested in a course such as this :
The Continual Improvement Workshop Series has a lot of information to offer for fairly low prices - they usually attract a broad range of people, as well, so many perspectives.
For out and out auditing, Quality Management International has courses throughout the country for both ISM and ISPS auditing - lower price and you might find one near you : QMII - ISM Internal Auditor
Before you take an auditor class, check the IRCA website to be certain it is from a provider that is approved for certification, QMII as stated above is no longer certified for these courses, I am using DNV Business Assurance, now GL-DNV
[QUOTE=JW-Oceans;128288]Before you take an auditor class, check the IRCA website to be certain it is from a provider that is approved for certification, QMII as stated above is no longer certified for these courses, I am using DNV Business Assurance, now GL-DNV[/QUOTE]
Great info - thanks!
The outside provider coming to MMA to give that course is top notch, however, MMA tends to overprice its courses.
I live driving distance to Castine, and as my schedule falls I will be home for the time it is scheduled. If they cancel I will load up on the Allen’s Coffee Brandy and go ice fishing.
It’s an expensive class, but I can write the tuition off on my taxes.
More interested in whether a class like this can help make me better as an OSV Master in a big company in the GOM. Not interested in becoming an auditor, I like driving the boats too much.
Auditing is auditing, it is what you are auditing to that counts, ISM, ISPS, EMS, QMS… Learn the standard and get a book on auditing!
At the same time, take classes for certification, you like driving the boats now but who knows what the future will bring you. Besides, this stuff is a good side job!
My current reasoning for looking into a class like this is to learn more and be better. Looking at an internal audit and external audit by ABS by the middle of the year.
Spending plenty of time reviewing and reading our company’s Management System Manual, as well as previous audit reports. Still wondering if a class like this would be of benefit? Or a waste of time and money. Guess I need to do a little more research to find out what I can do “on the side” with the piece of paper this course completion gives me.
I took the class at Maine Maritime. They are hosting it for Warsash Maritime Academy. The instructor is very good, has decades of experience and I walked away with a very good understanding of the audit process (from the office to the ship). I paid out of pocket and felt it was worth every penny. The lady that handles the course (Victoria Blackwood) set up a nice lobster dinner and a cruise on the Bowdoin. I will say though that I was the only tugboater, and I was surrounded by a lot of HSE Directors for the cruise lines that were also taking the course. I had title envy after day one 
[QUOTE=Flyer69;128348]
Spending plenty of time reviewing and reading our company’s Management System Manual, as well as previous audit reports…[/QUOTE]
That should do it.
Previous audit reports are key, especially the last one. It’s important to be able to show that whatever was found out of compliance on the last audit has been corrected.
I’d rather the audit uncover a new more serious (within limits) problem then have a repeat of an old, less serious one .If the crew was able to correct the finding from the last audit there is confidence that they can and will fix any new findings.
You need to be able to show that there is a processes in place to correct problems and that the processes itself is working properly.
Cool.
Thanks for the feedback, looks like I am going ice fishing!