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ISM Code Implementation on Ship - Operations, Preparedness, Reports, Analysis & Maintenance

ISM Code Shipboard Operations, Emergency Preparedness, Reports and Analysis of Non-Conformities & Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment - Sections 7, 8, 9 and 10

ism code shipboard operations

International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) is the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention, as adopted by the IMO assembly. Adopted in November 1993, the ISM Code came into force in July 1998. It is part of the SOLAS Chapter IX - Management for the Safe Operation of Ships. The latest amended version came into force on January 1, 2015.

The company should establish procedures and instructions to carry out shipboard operations effectively. The shipboard operations should also integrate the response to potential emergencies and plan and develop emergency scenarios. The company must conduct drills regularly to test the efficacy of the emergency response plans onboard and periodically test the ability of the personnel ashore to respond in such a scenario as well.

The SMS should contain procedures for reporting all accidents, hazardous occurrences, and non-conformities and forwarding them to the company. They should monitor such incidents for appropriate corrective action agreed to avoid a recurrence of the same in the future.

Develop procedures to ensure the maintenance, surveys, repairs, and dry-docking in a structured manner with safety as a priority. The Company should also arrange should carry out inspections of its vessels regularly. There should be procedures for reporting non-conformities and deficiencies that should include a time scale for corrective action.

Contents - Part A

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ISM Code Requirements for Implementation on Ship

ISM Code Part A (Section 7) - Shipboard Operations

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Section 7. Shipboard Operations

ISM Code Procedures, Plans and Instructions, and Checklists for Key Shipboard Operations

The Company should establish procedures, plans and instructions, including checklist as appropriate, for key shipboard operations concerning the safety of the personnel, ship and protection of the environment. The various tasks should be defined and assigned to qualified personnel.

Part A (Section 8) - Emergency Preparedness

Section 8. Emergency Preparedness

ISM Code Response to Potential Emergencies by Shore-Side and Shipboard Operations

8.1 The Company should identify potential emergency shipboard situations and establish procedures to respond to them.

8.2 The Company should establish programs for drills and exercises to prepare for emergency actions.

8.3 The SMS should provide for measures ensuring that the Company's organization can respond at any time to hazards, accidents and emergency situations involving its ships.

ISM Code Part A (Section 9) - Reports and Analysis of Non-Conformities, Accidents and Hazardous Occurrences

Section 9. Reports and Analysis of Non-Conformities, Accidents and Hazardous Occurrences

ISM Code SMS procedures that require reports to be prepared and forwarded to the company on all accidents, hazardous occurrences and non-conformities

9.1 The SMS should include procedures ensuring that non- conformities, accidents and hazardous situations are reported to the Company, investigated and analyzed with the objective of improving safety and pollution prevention.

9.2 The Company should establish procedures for the implementation of corrective action, including measures intended to prevent recurrence.

ISM Code Part A (Section 10) - Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment

Section 10. Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment

ISM Code procedures to ensure that the ship is maintained in conformity with rules and regulations

10.1 The Company should establish procedures to ensure that the ship is maintained in conformity with the provisions of the relevant rules and regulations and with any additional requirements which may be established by the Company.

10.2 In meeting these requirements the Company should ensure that:

.1 inspections are held at appropriate intervals;

.2 any non-conformity is reported, with its possible cause, if known;

.3 appropriate corrective action is taken; and

.4 records of these activities are maintained.

10.3 The Company should identify equipment and technical systems the sudden operational failure of which may result in hazardous situations. The SMS should provide for specific measures aimed at promoting the reliability of such equipment or systems. These measures should include the regular testing of stand-by arrangements and equipment or technical systems that are not in continuous use.

10.4 The inspections mentioned in 10.2 as well as the measures referred to in 10.3 should be integrated into the ship's operational maintenance routine.

ISM Code Guidance - Reporting and Analyzing of Non-Conformities

6. Reporting and Analyzing of Non-Conformities, Observations, Accidents and Hazardous Occurrences

MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.8 Guidance Regarding procedures that require reports to be prepared and forwarded to the Company on all accidents, hazardous occurrences and non-conformities

6.1 The SMS should contain procedures to ensure that non-conformities, observations and hazardous occurrences are reported to the responsible person of the management. The Company should have a system in place for recording, investigating, evaluating, reviewing and analysing such reports, and to take action as appropriate.

6.2 The system should ensure such reports are reviewed and evaluated by the responsible person(s) in order to determine appropriate corrective action and to ensure that recurrences are avoided. The evaluation of reports may result in:

.1 appropriate corrective actions;

.2 amendments to existing procedures and instructions; and

.3 development of new procedures and instructions

6.3 The responsible person should properly monitor the follow-up and closing-out of the non-conformities/deficiency reports. The receipt of reports should be acknowledged to those persons who have raised the reports. This should include the status of the report and any decisions made.

6.4 The Company should encourage the reporting of near-misses to maintain and improve safety awareness. The reporting and analysis of such incidents are essential for an effective risk assessment by the Company, especially where accident information is not available.

Disclaimer: For general information purpose only - please check IMO ISM Code & SOLAS Convention for the latest requirements and accurate info

LAST UPDATED ON Sep 26, 2022