Paragraph 55 Virtual site visitsF1

For the purpose of verifying the annual emissions report, the verifier may, with the agreement of the maritime operator and subject to the approval of the regulator in accordance with sub-paragraph (4), carry out a virtual site visit instead of carrying out a physical site visit in accordance with paragraph 54.

Before any virtual site visit, the verifier must undertake a risk analysis that includes considering measures to reduce the verification risk to an acceptable level to obtain reasonable assurance that the maritime operator’s annual emissions report is free from material misstatements.

An application for the regulator’s approval for a virtual site visit must be submitted by a maritime operator on or before 28th February in the year after the scheme year to which the maritime operator’s report relates or such later date as the regulator may specify.

On an application being submitted, the regulator must take the following into consideration in deciding whether or not to approve the virtual site visit—

When approving a virtual site visit, the regulator may impose conditions on the approval (including a condition that a physical site visit be carried out within a period specified by the regulator) and the maritime operator must ensure that any conditions are complied with.