ISM PREAMBLE

The Assembly The Assembly also

adopted resolution adopted resolution Recognizing that
A.443(XI),
The Code isby which The cornerstone
A.680(17), by which of goodno two shipping
it invited allin broad
expressed itsafety
furthermanagement
recognized is companies or
The purpose of Governments to commitment
terms so that it can the need for from the shipowners are
this Code is to take athe necessary top. In matters of safety the same, and
appropriate
have widespread
provide an steps to safeguard and pollutionofprevention that ships
organization
application. Clearly,
international the shipmaster
different levels ofin it is the commitment,
management to operate under a
standard for the proper discharge competence, attitudes wide range of
management, enable it to respond
the safe and
of his responsibilities
whether shore-based to themotivation of
need of those different
management individuals at all
with
or regard
at sea, willtorequire on board ships tolevels conditions, the
and operation maritime safety
varying levels of and that determines
achieve the end Code is based on
and maintain
of ships and for knowledge
the protection andof the result.
high standards of general principles
pollution marine environment.
awareness of the safety and and objectives.
prevention.
items outlined. environmental
protection.
 DEFINITIONS
The following definitions apply to parts A and B of this Code.

"International Safety Management (ISM) Code" means the International

Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention
as adopted by the Assembly, as may be amended by the Organization.

"Company" means the owner of the ship or any other organization or person such
as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility
for operation of the ship from the shipowner and who, on assuming such
responsibility, has agreed to take over all duties and responsibility imposed by the
Code.

"Administration" means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is
entitled to fly.
 DEFINITIONS
The continuation on definitions that can be applied for A and B

"Safety management system" means a structured and documented system

enabling Company personnel to implement effectively the Company safety and
environmental protection policy.

"Document of Compliance" means a document issued to a Company which

complies with the requirements of this Code.

"Safety Management Certificate" means a document issued to a ship which

signifies that the Company and its shipboard management operate in accordance
with the approved safety management system.

"Objective evidence" means quantitative or qualitative information, records or

statements of fact pertaining to safety or to the existence and implementation of a
safety management system element, which is based on observation,
measurement or test and which can be verified.
 DEFINITIONS
The continuation on definitions that can be applied for A and B

"Observation" means a statement of fact made during a safety management audit

and substantiated by objective evidence.

"Non-conformity" means an observed situation where objective evidence indicates

the non-fulfillment of a specified requirement.

"Major non-conformity" means an identifiable deviation that poses a serious threat

to the safety of personnel or the ship or a serious risk to the environment that
requires immediate corrective action and includes the lack of effective and
systematic implementation of a requirement of this Code.

"Anniversary date" means the day and month of each year that corresponds to
the date of expiry of the relevant document or certificate
DEFINITIONS cont.
"Observation" means a statement of fact made during a safety management audit
and substantiated by objective evidence.

"Non-conformity" means an observed situation where objective evidence indicates

the non-fulfillment of a specified requirement.

"Major non-conformity" means an identifiable deviation that poses a serious threat

to the safety of personnel or the ship or a serious risk to the environment that
requires immediate corrective action and includes the lack of effective and
systematic implementation of a requirement of this Code.

"Anniversary date" means the day and month of each year that corresponds to the
date of expiry of the relevant document or certificate

"Convention" means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,
1974, as amended.
Objectives of the Code 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.

Safety management objectives of the Company should, inter alia:

provide for safe practices in ship operation and a safe working environment;
 establish safeguards against all identified risks; and
continuously improve safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard
ships, including preparing for emergencies related both to safety and environmental
protection.

The safety management system should ensure:

compliance with mandatory rules and regulations that applicable codes, guidelines
and standards recommended by the Organization, Administrations,
classification societies and maritime industry organizations are taken into account.
 Functional requirements for a safety management system

The requirements of this Code may be applied to all ships.

Every Company should develop, implement and maintain a safety management
system which includes the following functional requirements:

a safety and environmental-protection policy

instructions and procedures to ensure safe operation of ships and protection of

the environment in compliance with relevant international and flag State legislation;

defined levels of authority and lines of communication between, and amongst,

shore and shipboard personnel;

procedures for reporting accidents and non-conformities with the provisions of

this Code;

procedures to prepare for and respond to emergency situations; and

procedures for internal audits and management reviews.

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL-PROTECTION POLICY

The Company should establish a safety and environmental-protection policy which

describes how the objectives given in paragraph 1.2 will be achieved.
The Company should ensure that the policy is implemented and maintained at all
levels of the organization, both ship-based and shore-based.

COMPANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY

If the entity who is responsible for the operation of the ship is other than the
owner, the owner must report the full name and details of such entity to the
Administration.
The Company should define and document the responsibility, authority and
interrelation of all personnel who manage, perform and verify work relating to and
affecting safety and pollution prevention.
The Company is responsible for ensuring that adequate resources and shore-
based support are provided to enable the designated person or persons to carry out
their functions.
 MASTER'S RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY The Company should
DESIGNATED PERSON (S) ensure that the safety
The Company should clearly define and management system
document
To thesafe
ensure the master's responsibility
operation with and
of each ship regard operating
to pr ovide on boardthe
a link between the ship
to:
Company and those on board, every Company, as appropriate, contains ashould
clear statement
designate a
person or persons ashore having direct access to the emphasizing
highest levelthe master's
of management.
implementing
The responsibilitythe
andsafety and environmental-
authority of the designated p erson authority. The Company
or persons should include
protection the
monitoring policy of the
safety Company;
and pollution-prevention aspe ctsof should establish of
the operation in the
each ship
motivating
and the crew
ensuring that in theresources
adequate observationandofshore-ba
that sedsafety
supportmanagement
are applied,system
as
policy;
required. that the master has the
issuing appropriate orders and instructions in a overriding authority and the
clear and simple manner; responsibility to make
verifying that specified requirements are decisions with respect to
observed; and safety and pollution
reviewing the safety management system and prevention and to request
reporting its deficiencies to the shore-based the Company's assistance
management. as may be necessary.
RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL (cont.)
 The Company should ensure that the master is:
 The Company should ensure that all personnel involved in the Company's safety
 properly qualified
management systemfor command;
have an adequate understanding of relevant rules,
 fully conversant
regulations, codes with the Company's safety management system; and
and guidelines.
 given the necessary support so that the master's duties can be safely performed.
 The Company should establish and maintain procedures for identifying any
The
trainingCompany
which may be required
should ensure in support
that of the
each ship is safety
manned management system
with qualified, and
certificated
ensure
and that such
medically training isinprovided
fit seafarers for allwith
accordance personnel
nationalconcerned.
and international
requirements.
 The Company should establish procedures by which the ship's personnel
The
receiveCompany
relevant information on theprocedures
should establish safety management system
to ensure that newinpersonnel
a workingand
language or
personnel languagestounderstood
transferred by them.
new assignments related to safety and protection of the
environment are given proper familiarization with their duties. Instructions which are
The Company
essential should ensure
to be provided prior to that theshould
sailing ship's personnel aredocumented
be identified, able to communicate
and given.
effectively in the execution of their duties related to the safety management system.
EMERGENCY
REPORTS ANDPREPAREDNESS
ANALYSIS OF NON-CONFORMITIES, ACCIDENTS AND
HAZARDOUS OCCURRENCES
The Company should establish procedures to identify, describe and respond to
 The safety
potential management
emergency system
shipboard should include procedures ensuring that non-
situations.
conformities, accidents and hazardous situations are reported to the Company,
The
investigated and should
Company analyzed with theprograms
establish objectivefor
of drills
improving safety andtopollution
and exercises prepare for
prevention. actions.
emergency

 Thesafety
The Company should establish
management systemprocedures for the
should provide for implementation of corrective
measures ensuring that the
action.
Company's organization can respond at any time to hazards, accidents and
emergency situations involving its ships.

DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS FOR SHIPBOARD OPERATIONS

The Company should establish procedures for the preparation of plans and
instructions, including checklists as appropriate, for key shipboard operations
concerning the safety of the ship and the prevention of pollution. The various tasks
involved should be defined and assigned to qualified personnel.
 MAINTENANCE OF THE SHIP AND EQUIPMENT

 The Company should establish procedures in its

The Company safety management
should system to identify
establish procedures equipment
to ensure that the s hip is
maintained in and technical
conformity systems
with the sudden
the provisions operational
of the relevant rules and regulations
failure of which
and with any additional may result
requirements in hazardous
which situations.by the Company.
may be established
 In meeting these requirements the Company should ensure tha t:
 The safety management system should provide
inspections arefor specific measures aimed
held at appropriate at promoting the
intervals;
any non-conformity
reliabilityisofreported,
such equipment or systems.
with its possible cause, if known;
 appropriate corrective action is taken; and
records of these
 These measures
activities should include the regular
are maintained.
testing of stand-by arrangements and equipment
The inspections or technical
and measuressystemsmentioned
that are not in continuous
in above should be integrated into
use. maintenance routine.
the ship's ope rational
COMPANY VERIFICATION, REVIEW AND EVALUATION
DOCUMENTATION
 TheCompany
The Company should
shouldestablish
carry out and
internal safetyprocedures
maintain audits to verify whether
to control safety and
all documents
pollution-prevention
and activitiestocomply
data which are relevant withmanagement
the safety the safety management
system. system.
 The
 The Company
Company should
should periodically
ensure that:evaluate the efficiency of and, when needed,
review the safety management system in accordance with procedures established by
thevalid
 Company.
documents are available at all relevant locations;
 changes to documents are reviewed and approved by authorized personnel; and
 obsolete
 The audits and possible
documents correctiveremoved.
are promptly actions should be carried out in accordance
with documented procedures.
The documents used to describe and implement the safety management system
 Personnel
may carrying
be referred to as out
the audits
Safety should be independent
Management Manual. of the areas being audited
unless this is impracticable due to the size and the nature of the Company.
 The results of the
Documentation audits
should beand
keptreviews should
in a form be brought
that the Company to considers
the attention of all
most
personnelEach
effective. having responsibility
ship should carryinonthe areaall
board involved.
documentation relevant to that ship.
The management personnel responsible for the area involved should take timely
corrective action on deficiencies found.