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Safety

Difference Between Audit and Survey

A survey checks the hardware; an audit checks the system, procedures and records behind it.

5 min read
Beginner
Safety
Key Principles at a Glance 6 points
  • A survey focuses on the physical status (hardware) of the machinery and equipment, and on future activity — so the equipment continues to work until the next survey.
  • An audit focuses on the system — operation, procedures, documentation and software — and looks back at past activity to detect faults and ensure proper corrective action.
  • A survey verifies that equipment is in good condition (e.g. a fire pump surveyor checks the pump repair and confirms the noted deficiency was removed).
  • An audit investigates the management system (e.g. an auditor checks the satisfactory repair of a pump and then enquires when it was last inspected and why the deficiency was not found before the survey).
  • Surveys are carried out by class surveyors/Administration for statutory and class requirements; audits (ISM/internal audits) are carried out by the company, DPA or auditor for the Safety Management System.
  • Survey = hardware; Audit = software/system. They complement each other: the survey finds the physical defect, the audit finds the management-system reason it was missed.

1. What Is a Survey?

  • A survey focuses on future activity so that the equipment continues to work until the next survey.
  • It focuses on the physical status of the machinery.
  • It focuses on hardware.
  • A survey of the entire system is possible — equipment survey, main engine performance survey, boiler survey, etc.
  • Example: in a survey of a fire pump, the surveyor will check the satisfactory repair of the pump and that the noted deficiency has been removed.

Who Carries Out Surveys:

  • Classification society surveyors — for class surveys (hull, machinery, boilers, tailshaft, etc.).
  • Administration / Flag State or recognised organisation — for statutory surveys and certificates.
  • Port State Control officers — for port State inspections on operational requirements.
SURVEY — FOCUS ON HARDWARE Physical status of machinery • future activity → work until next survey MACHINERY (physical condition) Survey focuses on • Physical status of machinery • Hardware • Future activity — work until the next survey • Equipment, M/E performance, boiler… Example: Fire pump surveyor checks repair done,
Figure 1: Survey — Hardware. A survey verifies the physical status of the machinery and its future ability to work until the next survey (e.g. checking a fire pump repair and deficiency clearance).

2. What Is an Audit?

  • An audit forecasts the past activity, then detects the fault and ensures proper corrective action.
  • It focuses on system operation, procedures, documentation and software.
  • It always looks at the system.
  • Example: an auditor will check the satisfactory repair of a pump and will enquire, find and analyse when the pump was last inspected and why the deficiency was not found before the survey.

Who Carries Out Audits:

  • ISM auditors (internal and external) — for the Safety Management System.
  • The company / DPA — internal audits and management reviews.
  • Flag State / recognised organisation — DOC and SMC verification (ISM).
The Key Question

The defining question of an audit is: "Why was the fault not found before?" An audit does not stop at the physical defect — it traces back through the planned maintenance, procedures and records to find the management-system reason the defect was missed.

AUDIT — FOCUS ON THE SYSTEM Procedures • documentation • software • trace back to why the fault was missed PROCEDURES / RECORDS trace back Audit focuses on • System operation • Procedures • Documentation & software • Past activity → detect fault → corrective action Example: Auditor checks pump repair, then asks when it was last inspected and why the deficiency was not found earlier.
Figure 2: Audit — System. An audit examines procedures, documentation and software, tracing back through past activity to identify why a fault was not found and ensure corrective action.

3. Key Differences

AspectSurveyAudit
FocusPhysical status / hardwareSystem / software
Looks atFuture activity (until next survey)Past activity (forecast, detect, correct)
ChecksMachinery condition, repairs, performanceOperation, procedures, documentation, records
ObjectiveEquipment continues to work safelySystem works and defects are not repeated
Carried out byClass surveyor / Administration / PSCISM/internal auditor, DPA, Flag State for DOC/SMC
Typical question"Is the equipment in good condition?""Why was the deficiency not found before?"
ExampleFire pump: check repair done and deficiency removedPump: check repair, then investigate when it was last inspected and why it was missed
One-Line Answer

Survey = hardware (physical condition of machinery for future operation); Audit = software/system (procedures, documentation and records, looking back to find why a fault occurred and ensure corrective action).

SURVEY Focus Physical status of machinery / hardware Looks at Future activity — until the next survey Checks Condition · repairs · performance By Class surveyor · Administration · PSC Q: Is the equipment in good condition? AUDIT Focus System · procedures · documentation · software Looks at Past activity → detect fault → corrective action By ISM / internal auditor · DPA · Flag State (DOC/SMC) Q: Why was it not found before?
Figure 3: Key Differences. Survey = hardware, future activity, physical condition; Audit = system, past activity, procedures/documentation, asking why the defect was missed.

4. Examples & How They Work Together

Worked Example — A Fire Pump:

  • Survey: the surveyor attends the fire pump, checks that the repair is satisfactory and that the deficiency noted earlier has been removed.
  • Audit: the auditor also sees that the pump is now repaired, but then enquires when the pump was last inspected and why the deficiency was not found before the survey.
  • The audit therefore examines the planned maintenance system, records, procedures and responsibilities that should have detected the defect.

How They Complement Each Other:

  • The survey finds the physical defect and verifies the repair.
  • The audit finds the systemic reason the defect existed or was missed and drives corrective and preventive action.
  • Together they keep the ship safe: the survey keeps the hardware working, the audit keeps the management system working.
Surveyor Asks

Surveyors commonly ask: "What is the difference between an audit and a survey?" Answer: Survey = physical/hardware + future activity; Audit = system/procedures/documentation + past activity. Give the fire-pump example to make it clear.

WORKED EXAMPLE — A FIRE PUMP Survey checks the repair is done • Audit traces back to why it was missed SURVEY Check repair satisfactory Confirm deficiency removed Hardware OK → future work AUDIT Pump repaired — but when was it last inspected? System OK → corrective action
Figure 4: Worked Example. The survey verifies the fire pump repair and deficiency removal; the audit then investigates when the pump was last inspected and why the deficiency was not found, driving corrective action.