TVIB membership puts you in the company of some of the most knowledgeable and respected marine auditors, surveyors and businesses in the industry. Whether you’re an individual or an organization, TVIB offers multiple types of memberships to accommodate everyone with marine auditing, inspection and certification needs.
We offer two classes of membership:

• Auditor and surveyor members: these memberships are for individual, independent professionals
• Supporting organization members: this is a business-level membership for businesses with marine auditing, inspection and certification needs. Examples include barge lines, towing companies, naval architects, engineering firms, etc.

If you’re interested in applying, read on to identify the membership category that’s right for you and then begin an application.

Learn more about the courses in marine auditing and surveying that TVIB offers.

TVIB Membership Categories

TVIB offers multiple categories of auditor and surveyor memberships to accommodate every individual’s needs and experience.

Auditor and Surveyor Membership Categories

Lead Auditor

This membership category is for experienced auditors with background auditing both vessels and full management systems, whether as a team leader or as a sole auditor.

Minimum requirements to become a Lead Auditor include:

• Complete an application, which includes three (3) professional references
• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• 4 years of experience working on towing vessels as a licensed mariner or other relevant maritime experience, such as a Coast Guard marine inspector, military personnel with relevant maritime experience, marine surveyor, professional engineer, or naval architect.
• Documented experience auditing the ISM Code, the American Waterways Operators Responsible Carrier Program, or other equivalent safety management systems, consisting of at least:
  • Two (2) management audits AND six (6) vessel audits within the past five (5) years, OR
  • Successful completion of an auditor apprenticeship, consisting of at least one (1) management audit and three (3) vessel audits under the direction of a lead auditor.

Education and Features

• To become a Lead Auditor, you must complete the TVIB Subchapter M Auditor Certification course
• Membership dues are $600 annually
• These auditors may serve on TVIB Committees, hold TVIB Board of Director positions and have full voting rights
• Individuals are required to complete periodic refresher training

Certified Subchapter M Surveyor

Supporting Organization Membership

A Supporting Organization membership is a business-level membership for businesses with marine inspection and certification needs. All TPO customers are considered Supporting Organizations, but membership is open to customers who do not need TVIB TPO services as well.

Features and Benefits

• Discounted training courses offered by TVIB
• Opportunities to attend and participate in all of TVIB’s semi-annual conventions, committee meetings, regional meetings and Board of Directors meetings
• Opportunities to serve as a member of one of our many standing and special committees, where you can help develop the audit and survey standards that you will ultimately be critiqued against
• Freedom to use the TVIB logo in your advertising on your website, stationery and business cards
• Discounted member services, particularly on TVIB audits

Is a Supporting Organization membership right for my business?

Supporting Organization memberships are beneficial for a variety of marine businesses, both large and small. Those who join TVIB as Supporting Organizations are typically one of the following:

• Organizations that employ auditors and/or surveyors seeking training, education and possibly accreditation for performing industry and regulatory compliance audits
• Barge lines
• Towing companies
• Shippers that utilize domestic waterborne transportation
• Tank barge owners and/or operators
• Fleeting and harbor services companies
• Shipyards
• Barge cleaning facilities
• Other stakeholders interested in promoting safety and compliance with government regulations and industry trade practices.

Annual Dues

Professional organizations that do NOT require the services of a TVIB Certified Auditor in their business, such as auditing/surveying organizations or interested parties will pay annual dues of $1,000.

TVIB charges the following fees for the use of the audit checklists and other relevant audit tools, which are used by all TVIB Certified Auditors who conduct audits:

• Management RCP Audit          $550.00
• Vessel RCP Audit                       $350.00 per vessel

The TVIB Audit Fee will be billed by TVIB upon receipt of your auditor’s notification that they have contracted with your company to provide an RCP audit. All invoices are due and payable to TVIB upon receipt. Any delay in payment may inhibit TVIB’s ability to process your Audit Report.

Member Applications

Membership FAQ

What are TVIB’s requirements for ISO Lead Auditor courses?

TVIB requires the successful completion of a 32-40 hour lead auditor/assessor course that is Exemplar Global or IRCA Certified, or an approved class society certified lead auditor course. These courses are either ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 courses and a minimum of 4-5 days in length. Currently there is not a recency requirement, but TVIB leadership is evaluating this element.

Where are these courses offered?

Lead Auditor courses that are acceptable for TVIB Auditor certifications and meet the minimum requirements above are offered from the following organizations:

• TVIB Sponsored Lead Auditor Courses, or other courses with similar content and course objectives as may be approved by TVIB.
• QMI, International
• ASQ (American Society for Quality)
• SAI Global
• Bureau Veritas North America
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
• ABS Consulting

Who can write a letter of professional recommendation?

Letters of recommendation should come from individuals who know you in a professional capacity. They must be from non-relatives who are familiar with the type of auditing and/or surveying work related to the credential you are seeking, or who are able to provide evidence of your knowledge and experience working in the marine industry. These individuals should have known you professionally for at least three years and can speak to your qualifications and character.

How do I know if I’m applying for the right category of membership?

All member applications go through a screening process, which includes an introductory telephone interview with our Executive Director and review of the application and supporting documents by a committee of TVIB staff. If at any point during the application review we have questions or concerns about the membership category an applicant has applied for, TVIB will ask for additional information, documentation, or additional references to determine which category of membership is the best fit for the applicant both currently and in line with where the applicant ultimately hopes to be.

Do I have to pay double membership dues if I am seeking both Auditor and Surveyor Certifications?

In a word, no. Annual member dues for auditors and surveyors are $600 each. However, we discount an individual’s secondary membership by 50%, so that a person holding both auditor and surveyor certifications will only pay $900 annually in dues.

What does the application fee cover?

The $300 application fee covers the processing of the application, and all administrative fees associated with that task. Once an application has been approved, TVIB will notify the applicant, and the fee for the appropriate certification course will be billed at the time you register for that course.