CMID and E-CMID In Spotlight

This launch of e-CMID took place last November, enabling clients, vessel operators and inspectors to register as users at the new dedicated website at www.imcacmid.com where registration and use is free to both members and non-members of IMCA alike. In the electronic version the inspector is not able to leave blanks, or provide insufficient information - when the inspector answers 'no' to any questions, a description of what is lacking must follow.

In the first three months of e-CMID's existence 652 users registered. Drawn from the three user groups, they represent 66 vessel operators, 60 clients, 45 combined operators/clients, and 79 inspection companies. The vessel operators accounted for 208 vessels. These statistics were far beyond IMCA's expectations.

The electronic version has proved easier and quicker to complete for the inspector. The vessel operator should have pre-populated certain information which then enables the inspector to concentrate on completing the report whilst on the vessel. Any time saving at this point is very important to the vessel operator who, in the past, had to spend a lot of time whilst in port escorting inspectors round their vessels. A more accurate report can also improve the likelihood of an existing report being accepted and thus a new report not being commissioned - another saving.

The e-CMID was also the necessary precursor of the database which will store the reports. IMCA thrives on feedback and a number of users reported that paper-based CMID reports were circulating with inaccuracies in them, which the vessel operator could not correct, and that updates to vessel equipment status could not be included; and there were also indications that several versions of reports could be in circulation at the same time.

The e-CMID generates a list of findings which the inspector can discuss with the vessel master before leaving the vessel. It also ensures the vessel operator has the opportunity to provide comments and updates on the inspector's findings report before, and after, it is lodged on the database. Clearly only one version of the report can exist on the database which addresses the feedback IMCA received. Better quality reports and better access to them, both provided by the combination of issue 7 of the CMID report format/the e-CMID/the CMID database, will be an improvement for all parties concerned - vessel operators, clients and inspectors.