Governance
How we hold ourselves to account.
Vardline sells independent judgement. These are the standards the partners have adopted so that a client, a lender or an auditor can see what that independence rests on. Each policy is available as a signed document on request.
Code of conduct
We act honestly, report what we find, and do not sign what we have not verified. We comply with the laws of the countries we work in and with the client’s own rules on site. A partner is accountable for every engagement, and any person we propose is named to the client before mobilisation. Concerns about our conduct can be raised with any partner or at enquiries@vardline.com, and will be answered by a partner not involved in the matter.
Anti-bribery and corruption
Vardline does not offer, give, request or accept bribes, facilitation payments or improper advantages of any kind, directly or through others, anywhere in the world. This applies to dealings with public officials and with private parties alike. We comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010 and the Norwegian Penal Code, which together apply to the firm, its partners and anyone acting on its behalf.
Gifts and hospitality are limited to what is modest, infrequent, openly given and recorded. We do not appoint agents or intermediaries to win work. Associates and subcontractors engaged by Vardline are bound by this policy by contract. Any request for an improper payment is refused and reported to a partner, and we will withdraw from an engagement rather than make one.
Independence and conflicts of interest
Vardline and its partners hold no ownership interest in shipyards, contractors or vessel owners, take no commissions and receive no related-party revenue. Before accepting an appointment we check for conflicts with existing engagements and with the partners’ other professional interests, and we decline where a conflict exists or would be seen to exist. Where a partner’s own company holds a role on a project, that role is disclosed to the client in writing before Vardline is engaged.
Sanctions and trade compliance
We screen clients, counterparties and vessels against applicable sanctions lists, including those of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Norway, before accepting work and when circumstances change. We do not provide services that would breach sanctions or export controls, and we will suspend an engagement where continuing would do so.
Health, safety and environment
Our people work under the client’s safety management system on site and under Vardline’s own expectations everywhere: stop the job when it is not safe, report what is seen, and never trade a finding for a schedule. Partners and associates hold the offshore medical, survival and site-specific certificates the scope requires, and we check them before mobilisation. Our environmental footprint is mostly travel; we plan mobilisations to limit it and combine site visits where the schedule allows.
Confidentiality and data protection
Client information is held in confidence, used only for the engagement, and not disclosed without written permission, including on this website. Personal data is handled as set out in our privacy notice. Reports and records are retained for as long as professional, insurance and statutory requirements apply, and deleted afterwards.
Quality of work
Every report is reviewed by a second partner before issue. Findings are stated plainly, with the evidence they rest on and the limits of what was examined. Where we are not competent to judge something, we say so and recommend who is.