News
Donna attains eCMID vessel inspector accreditation
Donna Van Damme 12th November 2026Our senior marine consultant has added another string to her bow, and is now qualified to carry out eCMID inspections on small workboats under 500 gross tonnes.
Donna Van Damme, who is based in Lowestoft, has become an Accredited Vessel Inspector (AVI) under the eCMID system with an endorsement for Marine Inspection of Small Workboats.
Donna said: “As the majority of vessels I inspect on behalf of our clients are under 500gt, I applied for a Marine Inspection of Small Workboats endorsement. With so many small vessels in East Anglia needing a CMID every year, becoming an AVI and being able to offer this service to the vessels I visit seemed like a good business decision.”
What is eCMID?
eCMID (the electronic Common Marine Inspection Document) is an industry-standard inspection format run by the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). It acts as a safety management system “health check” for vessels. A standard format makes inspections more consistent and can reduce how often a vessel needs to be inspected.
Only accredited inspectors can carry out eCMID inspections and upload the reports. The accreditation scheme is run by the Marine Surveying Academy of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS). It gives vessel owners and their clients confidence that the inspector has the right knowledge and up-to-date experience for the type of vessel being inspected.
Earning the accreditation
“Becoming an AVI has been something that I’ve been aiming to do for the past few years, but workload has made it difficult,” said Donna.
“So when I had a bit of spare time between projects last month I seized the opportunity. The process was reasonably straightforward. I had to supply examples of inspections I’d carried out previously as well as answer questions to demonstrate competence.”
Next month, Donna will complete an online validation course, with future revalidation courses every five years, as well as taking part in the eCMID AVI Continued Professional Development programme to maintain her accreditation.
Donna Van Damme Senior marine consultant
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