Remote Surveys and Audits in 2025: Navigating IMO’s New Guidance with Maritime AI

In the 11th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments, IMO has finalized its latest guidance on remote maritime surveys, ISM Code audits, and ISPS Code verifications. While the industry has experimented with remote audits since the pandemic, the IMO has now clarified how and when remote technology can be used. The message is clear: remote tools have a role, but they cannot replace the rigor of in-person inspections.

This signals a new chapter for compliance: a hybrid future where both digital readiness and traditional oversight will shape how fleets prepare for audits.

IMO’s 2025 Guidance: What Changed?

The finalized guidelines emphasize caution and control:

• Remote maritime surveys: Only permitted for non-critical items and strictly subject to Administration approval. Critical safety checks still require on-site verification.
• Remote ISM Code audits: The majority must remain in-person. Remote audits are only acceptable under very limited, exceptional conditions.
• Remote ISPS Code verifications: Remote assessments are allowed only in extraordinary circumstances where physical attendance is impossible.

In other words, digital tools can complement, but not replace, core compliance mechanisms. Regulators want assurance that safety and security standards remain robust, even as technology evolves.

Why This Matters: The Rise of Hybrid Maritime Compliance

The industry now faces a new operational reality: preparing for audits that may be part remote, part physical. This hybrid maritime compliance model requires organizations to:

• Ensure documentation is digitally accessible and audit-ready.
• Maintain transparency across ship managers, compliance officers, and technical teams.
• Keep pace with rapidly evolving interpretations of IMO requirements.

Falling short could mean failed audits, costly delays, or reputational damage. Staying proactive has never been more critical.

How NAVIREGO Supports Remote and Hybrid Compliance

Hybrid compliance demands more than storing files; it requires systems that think with you. NAVIREGO is designed as a compliance infrastructure that connects regulations, company procedures, and day-to-day reporting into one intelligent framework.

With NAVIREGO, maritime organizations can:

• Turn regulations into action: NAVIREGO dissects complex IMO and flag-state requirements, connects the dots across codes, and highlights what actually applies to your fleet.
• Automate compliance checks: From verifying SMS procedures against the latest standards to managing lengthy inspection reports, NAVIREGO reduces manual preparation.
• Stay ahead of regulatory change: QHSE teams receive clear, contextual alerts when IMO or flag requirements shift, with guidance on how to update policies and documentation.
• Accelerate audit readiness: Whether it’s a remote preparatory audit or a full on-site inspection, NAVIREGO ensures documentation and analysis are instantly retrievable, aligned, and up to date.
• Strengthen fleet-wide oversight: Ship managers and DPAs can run internal “pre-audits” across vessels, checking consistency and spotting risks before Administrations or class do.

By blending regulatory intelligence with workflow automation, NAVIREGO makes hybrid audits less about chasing paperwork and more about proving compliance with confidence.

Practical Benefits for Compliance Teams

The IMO’s guidance may restrict the use of remote audits, but digital preparation still plays a decisive role. NAVIREGO delivers practical value:

• For Technical Offices: Updated visibility into the boundaries of remote ISM Code audits and survey requirements.
• For Ship Managers: The ability to access documents instantly, even during hybrid verifications.
• For Compliance Leaders: Assurance that their organization is in sync with IMO audit guidance 2025, reducing the risk of missteps during inspections.

Preparing for the Hybrid Future

The IMO’s 2025 guidance makes one thing certain: remote audits will remain limited, but digital readiness will be vital. Critical safety and security checks will still be conducted in person, yet organizations must be able to respond flexibly when Administrations allow remote methods.

NAVIREGO supports this shift by ensuring professionals don’t just react to compliance changes; they stay ahead. From remote ISPS Code verifications in extraordinary cases to day-to-day SMS documentation management, our platform keeps teams informed, aligned, and prepared.

Final Thought

Remote tools may not replace traditional audits, but they are reshaping expectations. Compliance is no longer just about being ready when an inspector boards a ship; it’s about being ready anywhere, anytime.

With NAVIREGO, maritime organizations can navigate this hybrid compliance era with confidence, knowing their documentation, teams, and procedures are always aligned with the latest rules.

Ready to prepare for the future of remote and hybrid compliance?
Explore NAVIREGO's maritime safety solutions.[Contact us] (https://www.navirego.com/contact) and see how smarter information management can keep your fleet audit-ready in 2025 and beyond.