The Inspection & Test Plan is the backbone of newbuilding quality control. Here is how ITP-driven inspection works and why digitising it changes how supervision teams operate.
In newbuilding ship construction, the Inspection & Test Plan (ITP) is the single document that defines what gets inspected, when, and by whom. An ITP-driven inspection process ties every inspection you record back to a specific line in that plan — giving you full traceability and real-time visibility of construction quality.
What is an Inspection & Test Plan?
An ITP is a structured schedule of inspection and test activities for a vessel under construction. It is organised by department (hull, piping, painting, machinery, electrical, outfitting) and lists each activity, the acceptance criteria, the applicable standard, and the level of involvement required from the shipyard, the owner’s representative, and the classification society.
Crucially, the ITP defines intervention points. These are typically categorised as hold points (work cannot proceed until inspected and approved), witness points (a party is invited to witness but work may proceed), and review points (documentation is reviewed).
Why ITP-driven inspection matters
- Traceability — every recorded inspection maps to a specific ITP activity, so nothing is inspected “off-plan” and nothing is missed.
- Real-time completion — you can see the percentage of ITP activities completed per department at any moment.
- Hold point control — no construction stage advances past a hold point without a recorded, approved inspection.
- Audit readiness — the classification society and owner can see a complete, structured inspection history.
From paper and spreadsheets to digital ITP tracking
Many yards still run their ITP on spreadsheets and paper sign-off sheets. This works until scale and coordination overwhelm it — thousands of activities, multiple parties, and constant status changes are hard to keep synchronised manually.
Digital ITP tracking software solves this by making the ITP the live spine of the project. Inspectors record findings against ITP activities on site, witness points move through their stages digitally, and everyone sees the same up-to-date status. Reports are generated directly from the ITP data rather than re-keyed.
How ShipInspect Pro handles ITP-driven inspection
ShipInspect Pro is structured entirely around the ITP. You record inspections by department, item, and activity, track witness loops through Requested → Scheduled → Witnessed → Approved, and get automatic completion analytics. Monthly AI-generated reports are compiled directly from your ITP progress, so the report always reflects the real state of construction. Request a free trial to see ITP-driven inspection in practice.
See ShipInspect Pro in action
Request a free 7-day trial with sample data and see how it fits your newbuilding project.