(HOUSTON) — The Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau (TVIB) has announced that more than 60 companies, representing over 750 towing vessels, have signed agreements to use TVIB as their third-party organization (TPO) to provide comprehensive services for Subchapter M compliance. Approximately 15 percent of these TPO customers have not previously participated in a third-party audited safety management system, like the American Waterways Operators Responsible Carrier Program (AWO RCP).
Chris Parsonage, president of TVIB, noted the success of the organization can partially be attributed to the robust relationships TVIB staff, auditors, surveyors and customers have developed. “Our customers have been working with our auditors and surveyors for many years. Our auditors and surveyors are from the industry and know the industry. Our customers have come to know TVIB as a trusted source of knowledge and expertise,” he said.
TVIB issued its first towing safety management system (TSMS) certificate in June, and has continued to issue TSMS certificates to customers at a steady pace.
“We are committed to helping our customers plan for and comply with Subchapter M," Parsonage said. "We have been publishing auditing checklists and compliance tools designed to help their compliance departments fill in the gaps. This week, TVIB debuted a model internal survey program, available for all of our TPO customers. This model program has great value for customers looking for sample policies and procedures to include in their TSMS to meet the requirements for fully implementing an internal survey program that complies with Subchapter M.”
About TVIB
The Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau was founded in 2010 as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional trade organization of marine auditors and surveyors. TVIB educates, develops audit and survey tools and certifies marine auditors and surveyors to perform consistent, objective and independent audits and surveys of marine operators. Members provide marine audit and survey services to inland, coastal and oceangoing towing operators across the country. TVIB’s is headquartered in Houston, with satellite offices in Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis, Mo., and Destin, Fla. Visit www.thetvib.org for more information.
