Development of a methodology on a ship smart internal audit system (SSAS)

This study proposes a systematic methodology to deeply analyze the multi-source database of inspection/audit findings of merchant ships (i.e., PSC, external audits, etc.). The benchmarking database consists of Company-A's internal audit findings from 16 different dry bulk fleets and comprehensive external audit findings. The methodology is mainly based on a combination of statistical trend analysis and cognitive mapping techniques. A well-known industrial framework, the marine systematic cause analysis technique (M-SCAT), has also been adapted to the methodology to strengthen the causality phase and allow for more meticulous analysis. The technique detailed in the methodology was applied specifically to a company operating a fleet in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to show possible relationships between causality and subsequent inspection programs. The analysis aims to obtain detailed indicators under cause priorities, root causes, and audit item priorities to reconstruct the future audit checklist. The company's revised audit checklist and pre-identified root causes are ingeniously linked with preventive action recommendations. As a result, the study encourages shipping company managers to focus on the preparation of dry bulk carriers as a very current quality standard for the dry cargo industry.