2. INTRODUCTION
• The last four decades have seen an important shift in the
emphasis of safety regulations, both onshore and offshore,
from prescriptive to goal setting , placing the responsibility
for safety firmly with those who carry on activities which can
endanger others.
• The application of safety case to any new area, such as the
management of ship safety involves a number of significant
challenges, the first of which in the communication of a clear
understanding of its distinctive features, requirements and
advantages.
• The ISM for the safe operation of ships and of pollution
prevention incorporated in chapter IX of the SOLAS 1974.
3. ISM CODE
• The ISM CODE means the international code for the safety of
ships and for pollution prevention adopted by the
International Maritime Organization by resolution Art; 74(18).
• The ISM CODE is the standard for establishing a system for
the safe management and operation of ships and for
pollution prevention.
• Its set rules for the organization of the owner or company
management in relation to safety and pollution prevention,
and for the implementation of a safety management system.
• The system will have to be approved by the flag
administration, or an organization recognized by it normally
classification societies, then a certificate issued.
• The ISM CODE was designed by IMO to provide a vehicle for
ship owners to create their own progress individually to meet
5. AIM OF ISM CODE
• Aims at improving maritime safety by introducing a series of
measures to ensure that vessels are kept up to certain
standards. Such measures include maintenance and testing of
the vessel and its equipment , and carrying out regular audits
to make sure that the vessel is constantly in compliance with
the code. In exchanges the vessel and the owing company will
be provided with appropriate certificates to prove that the
vessel is in compliance with the requirement of the code.
• The purpose of the ISM CODE is to establish minimum
standards for safety management and operation of ships and
for pollution prevention.
• The objective of the code are to ensure safety at sea
,prevention human injury and avoid damage to environment
and to property.
6. Cont….
• The code does not create specific operating rules and
regulations ,but provides a broad framework for vessel
owners and operators to ensure compliance with existing
regulations and codes ,to improve safety practices and to
establish safe guards against all identifiable risks. It also sets
forth the safety management objectives ,which should be
adopted by companies.
• As a result of the code ,both parties to the contract of carriage
will be able to prove whether the vessel was seaworthy or
not.
7. APPLICATION OF ISM CODE
• Since its effective date of july 1 1998,the code has applied to
I. Passenger ships
II. Oil tankers , chemical tankers , gas carriers, bulk freight
vessel and height of 500 gross tonnage.
• As of july 1 2002, other cargo ships and mobile offshore
regular drilling units of 500 gross tones or more also be in
compliance with the code.
• The ISM code does not applies to towing vessels ,barge
vessels solely engage in domestic trade ,domestic passenger
vessels carrying fewer than 12 passengers or fishing vessels.
• As a result of the code, both parties to the contract of
carriage will be able to prove whether the vessel was
seaworthy or not. The ISM code is compulsory for all the
vessels carrying the flags at member states of SOLAS .
8. ISM CODE REQUIREMENTS
• SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
• The SMS provides the framework for compliance with the
code. It is a written system of safety and environmental
protection policies and procedures to be followed by vessel
and shore based personnel with record keeping , reporting
and requirements which is meant to enable the company to
uncover and correct safety deficiencies before they result in a
casuality.
9. DESIGNATED PERSON
• The designated person is the person or entity charged with
overseeing internal audits and management reviews of
compliance and keeping the SMS up-to date.
• The requirement that the designated person have access to
the highest levels of management is meant to ensure that
management is informed of and responsible for compliance
with the SMS , over seeing the integration of management
and shipboard responsibility for safety.
10. • The company should establish in the SMS that the Master has
the overriding authority and the responsibility to make
decisions with respect to safety and pollution prevention and
to request the company’s assistance as may be necessary.
REPONSIBILITY OF MASTERS
11. CERTIFICATION
• Once the SMS is in place, it must be certified by means of an
outside audit by the flag state or those entities as may be
delegated this duty, consisting primarily of classification
societies.
12. CONCLUSION
• The ISM CODE is tangible evidence of the increasing success
of the IMO in setting uniform standards worldwide.
