1. The verifier shall be independent from the company or from the ship operator and shall carry out the activities required under this Regulation in the public interest. For that purpose and in order to avoid potential conflicts of interest, neither the verifier nor any part of a legal entity of which it is part shall be a company, ship operator or the owner of a company. In addition, the verifier shall not be owned by a company, ship operator or the owner of a company nor shall it have relations with a company that could affect its independence and impartiality.