ISM Code

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by resolution A.741(18). The objectives of the ISM Code are to ensure safety at sea, prevention of human injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the environment, in particular, to the marine environment, and to property.

Compliance with the ISM Code became mandatory with the adoption of SOLAS, Chapter IX, "Management for the Safe Operation of Ships." The IMO provided amplifying guidance on implementation of the requirements of SOLAS, Chapter IX, and the ISM Code in resolution A.788(19), "Guidelines on the Implementation of the International Safety management (ISM) Code by Administrations."

Applicability of the ISM Code
SOLAS, Chapter IX, and the ISM Code applies to ships, regardless of the date of construction, as follows:

Passenger ships, including passenger high-speed craft, not later than 1 July 1998 -Oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tons or more, not later than 1 July 1998 -Other cargo ships and mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) of 500 gross tons or more, not later than 1 July 2002.

Background
The Code's origins can be traced back to the late 1980s, when concern was growing about poor management standards in the shipping industry. In 1989, IMO adopted Guidelines on management for the safe operation of ships and for pollution prevention "to provide those responsible for the operation of ships with a framework for the proper development, implementation and assessment of safety and pollution prevention management in accordance with good practice."

These guidelines were revised in November 1991 and the ISM Code itself was adopted as a recommendation in 1993. However, after several years of practical experience, it was felt that the Code was so important that it should be mandatory.


 * The ISM Code establishes safety management objectives which are:
 * To provide for safe practices in ship operation and a safe working environment;
 * To establish safeguards against all identified risks;
 * To continuously improve safety management skills of personnel, including preparing for emergencies.

The Code requires a safety management system (SMS) to be established by "the Company", which is defined as the shipowner or any person, such as the manager or bareboat charterer, who has assumed responsibility for operating the ship. This system should be designed to ensure compliance with all mandatory regulations and that codes, guidelines and standards recommended by IMO and others are taken into account.

The SMS in turn should include a number of functional requirements:


 * A safety and environmental protection policy;
 * Instructions and procedures to ensure safety and environmental protection;
 * Defined levels of authority and lines of communication between and amongst shore and shipboard personnel;
 * Procedures for reporting accidents, etc.;
 * Procedures for responding to emergencies;
 * Procedures for internal audits and management review.

The Company is then required to establish and implement a policy for achieving these objectives. This includes providing the necessary resources and shore-based support. Every company is expected "to designate a person or persons ashore having direct access to the highest level of management".

The Code then goes on to outline the responsibility and authority of the master of the ship. It states that the SMS should make it clear that "the master has the overriding authority and the responsibility to make decisions ..." The Code then deals with other seagoing personnel and emphasizes the importance of training.

Companies are required to prepare plans and instructions for key shipboard operations and to make preparations for dealing with any emergencies which might arise. The importance of maintenance is stressed and companies are required to ensure that regular inspections are held and corrective measures taken where necessary.

The procedures required by the Code should be documented and compiled in a Safety Management Manual, a copy of which should be kept on board. Regular checks and audits should be held by the company to ensure that the SMS is being complied with and the system itself should be reviewed periodically to evaluate its efficiency.

After outlining the responsibilities of the company, the Code then stresses that the responsibility for ensuring that the Code is complied with rests with the Government. Companies which comply with the Code should be issued with a document of compliance, a copy of which should be kept on board. Administrations should also issue a Safety Management Certificate to indicate that the company operates in accordance with the SMS and periodic checks should be carried out to verify that the ship's SMS is functioning properly.

In order to ensure utmost safety of the ship, the ISM code targets the very basics of the ship’s functioning, ensuring proper maintenance of ship’s machinery.

This includes:


 * Inspection of ship machinery at regular intervals of time
 * Taking the right actions in case of non-conformity
 * Keeping a record of the causes and maintenance activities for future reference
 * Regular testing of equipment and systems
 * Training ship personnel and keeping them updated with the latest in the industry regulations

Contributions
Ayman Alakkawi