POLICY
Impartiality & Independence Policy
How we keep findings evidence-based, and how we disclose and manage our commercial relationships.
VERSION 2.0. EFFECTIVE 4 AUGUST 2026. NEXT REVIEW 4 AUGUST 2027.
Independence is worth stating only if it is stated accurately. SolarisTech is a commercial company with commercial relationships, and some of those relationships touch parties our clients also deal with. This policy sets out what those relationships are, where our independence is real, where it is limited, and what we do about it. It applies to all personnel and to every engagement we accept.
What we mean by independent
Our independence claim is scoped. We would rather publish the scope than let a reader discover it later.
- We are independent of the outcome. No one at SolarisTech is paid more, or paid at all, for reaching a particular conclusion, and no fee we earn varies with what we find.
- We are independent in ownership. SolarisTech is not owned by, and does not own, any classification society, flag administration, shipyard, owner, manager, charterer, broker, insurer or lender.
- We hold no delegated statutory authority. We are not a recognized organization, and we are not accredited as an inspection or certification body under ISO/IEC 17020 or ISO/IEC 17021.
- We are not independent of every party in the market, and we do not claim to be. SolarisTech maintains working relationships with classification societies and represents flag administrations internationally. Both are set out below.
Commercial relationships we disclose
SolarisTech maintains working relationships with classification societies. Where a client asks us to place class work, we may introduce them to a society and we may benefit commercially from the introduction. We tell the client that before the introduction is made. The society carries out the survey and certification and contracts directly with the client. Where a client wants both a class introduction and an independent assurance opinion on the same vessel, we say so and decline one of the two. The details of any relationship that could bear on an engagement are available on request.
How we manage the classification society relationship
- Disclosure before introduction. We tell the client in writing, before any introduction or recommendation, that SolarisTech holds a relationship with the society concerned and that we may benefit commercially from the introduction. The disclosure names the society.
- The choice stays with the client. Where we source class quotations on a client's behalf, we identify which societies we hold appointments with and which we do not. The client is free to appoint any society, including one we have no relationship with, and we will source a quotation from a society we earn nothing from if asked.
- Separation of referral and assurance. We do not carry out assurance work, meaning inspection, audit, survey, verification or second opinion, on an engagement that our own referral created between the client and the society.
- No opinion on our principals' own work without consent. We do not review, audit or give a second opinion on the work of a society with which we hold an appointment unless the client has the relationship in writing and instructs us to proceed anyway.
- No link between fees and findings. Agency remuneration is never tied to the content of a SolarisTech report, finding or recommendation, and no SolarisTech surveyor, auditor or reviewer receives a commission, bonus or referral fee connected to a class appointment.
How we manage the flag administration relationship
- Disclosure before acceptance. Where we represent a flag administration and the work in front of us touches that administration, or a vessel registered with it or applying to register with it, we say so in writing before we accept the engagement.
- Representation is commercial, not statutory. We do not issue statutory certification on our own authority, and we do not present work done under a representation appointment as a statutory act.
- No advocacy dressed as assurance. We do not present a registry introduction, or work carried out for an administration, as an independent assurance opinion on the same vessel.
- Separation of roles. We do not provide independent assurance to an owner in a matter that is before an administration we represent unless both the client and the administration have the relationship in writing and the client instructs us to proceed.
- Findings go to the instructing party. Where an administration instructs us, our findings are reported to the administration for its own action. Where an owner instructs us, the report belongs to the owner and we do not pass it to an administration without instruction.
Where a conflict cannot be managed on the terms set out above, we decline the work or withdraw from it, and we tell the client why.
Safeguarding objectivity
- Every finding rests on objective evidence and a stated requirement. We cite the convention, code, rule or contractual standard behind it.
- We do not soften, withhold or reorder findings to suit any party, including the party paying us.
- The same standard applies whether the client is the owner, the buyer, the insurer, the lender or the administration.
- Where evidence is incomplete or access was refused, the limitation goes in the report rather than being covered by an assumption.
Managing conflicts of interest
We assess each prospective engagement for actual, potential and perceived conflicts of interest before we accept it, and we keep looking throughout delivery.
- Relationships, financial interests, relationships and prior involvement that could affect objectivity are identified and disclosed to the client before acceptance.
- Where a conflict can be managed, we record the safeguard in the engagement file and tell the client what it is.
- Where a conflict cannot be adequately managed, we decline the work or withdraw from it.
- We do not act for both sides of the same transaction without the written, informed consent of both.
- Prior involvement counts. We do not audit or verify work that SolarisTech itself designed, specified or performed.
Protecting our people from pressure
Impartiality depends on people who are free to report what they find. We protect our personnel from commercial, financial, internal or external pressure to alter, omit or overstate a finding. No one at SolarisTech is rewarded for reaching a particular conclusion. Any attempt to influence a finding improperly, from a client, a partner or from inside the company, is escalated directly to the President and treated as a serious matter. Concerns can be raised confidentially and without retaliation.
Marine warranty and marine assurance work
Where SolarisTech is appointed as marine warranty surveyor under a policy warranty clause and accepted by the underwriters concerned, the scope includes issuing the Certificate of Approval for the approved operation. Appointment is made by the assured and is subject to underwriter acceptance. That appointment is an assurance role and is treated as one. Our fee does not vary with whether an operation is approved, we do not hold an interest in the operation or the assets involved, and we do not accept a warranty appointment on an operation whose procedures SolarisTech itself wrote.
Who our reports are for
Our reports are prepared for the party that instructs us and for the purpose stated in the engagement. Reliance by any other party requires our written agreement. Where an engagement is instructed by a lender, insurer, law firm or administration rather than by the vessel's owner, we identify the instructing party before the work starts, and everyone we deal with on board and ashore is told who we are working for.
Impartiality is monitored by senior management and is a condition of employment and engagement for everyone who works with us. If you want our current relationship and flag representation disclosures before you instruct us, ask for them and we will send them. Policy owner: Thomas H. Blenk, President and Chief Executive Officer. Disclosure requests and impartiality concerns: admin@solaristechinc.com.
Other Policies
Questions About How We Work?
Ask for our certificates, our sub-processor list, our relationship and flag representation disclosures, or the scope of any engagement. We will send them.