Division 4.2.1 In order to assess fully whether the company or each type of ship complies with the requirements of the ISM Code, in addition to the basic competence stated above, personnel who are to perform initial verifications or renewal verifications for a document of compliance and a safety management certificate, must possess the competence to:

determine whether or not the elements of the safety management system (SMS) conform with the ISM Code;

determine the effectiveness of the company's SMS, or that of each type of ship, to ensure compliance with rules and regulations as evidenced by the statutory and classification survey records;

assess the effectiveness of the SMS in ensuring compliance with other rules and regulations which are not covered by statutory and classification surveys and enabling verification of compliance with these rules and regulations; and

assess whether the safe practices recommended by the IMO, administrations, classification societies and maritime industry organisations have been taken into account.