Why do we have a Document of Compliance?
In order for a yacht management company to formally manage a yacht that is Commercially registered or private that is ‘voluntary compliant’ to commercial standards, they must hold a ‘Document of Compliance’ (DOC). This is issued by the Flag State that is on the back of the yacht under management.
As Black Pearl is registered with the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry we must have a Cayman DOC. Before a DOC is issued the Flag State will send a surveyor to the company premises to carry out a formal audit of the company. The aim is to ensure that before a company can formally manage a yacht they must prove to the Flag State that all policies and procedures are in place to allow them to manage the yacht in a safe manner in particular follow the guidance of the ISM Code. Once the surveyor is satisfied they will issue the company with a ‘Interim Document of Compliance’ which is valid for one year.
During the year the company is to collate as much evidence as possible to show the flag state that what they said they were going to do and what they have actually done. The Flag State surveyor will come back a year later and carry out another audit on the office and look for evidence that they are ‘Managing’ as required under the ISM and Flag State rules. If content they will issue a Full term Document of Compliance which is valid for 5 years subject to annual survey.
What does Divergent Yachting have now in place?
So, in October 2017 Divergent Yachting was awarded an Interim DOC from the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry and the UK Flag which allowed them to formally manage yachts flying those flags. This week a second audit was carried out to the satisfaction of the Cayman Surveyor who have now issued a Full term DOC. These shows that Divergent Yachting meet all of the formal Flag state requirements to formally act as the management company for Cayman and UK Flagged vessels.
Some Captains will not allow their yachts to be managed by companies holding an ‘Interim DOC’ as at that stage they have not proven to Flag that they have everything in place, whereas those now like us with a ‘Full term DOC’ have met all of the requirements and provided evidence to support it.
What did Divergent Yachting have to have in place to do this?
Before you can even approach Flag for a DOC you must have a formally qualified ‘Designated Person Ashore’ (DPA – David Goldie our Head of Compliance) and a certified ‘Company Security Officer’ (CSO – again David Goldie). You also require a ‘Safety Management System’ (SMS) that clearly shows how you can meet all of the requirements of the ISM Code (International Safety Management) and the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security).
To ensure that Divergent Yachting continues to provide cover over annual holidays was have 2 certified DPA’s and CSO’s, David Goldie and also our Director Derek Munro.
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