OPTIMISM Training Platform

The maritime industry is directly influenced by the policies of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its international conventions. IMO has established three major pillars, viz., SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea), MARPOL (Maritime Pollution) and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping). In addition, there are several international organisations such as ILO which regulate the labour rules and regulations. The maritime sector is very sensitive on two topics: safety at sea and the environment. These two concepts can be found in almost every shipping company’s mission statement. Despite the existing sensitivity, accidents in the maritime sector, especially on vessels, still continue.

IMO was monitoring and working on a quality system which can be accepted by all the member countries in order to be sure that every shipping company in the world is obliged to apply the same basic safety rules and to the same standards. For this reason, the ISM (International Safety Management) Code was developed to provide an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.

The purpose of ISM Code is:

• To ensure safety at sea
• To prevent human injury or loss of life
• To avoid damage to the environment and to the ship

SOLAS adopted the ISM Code in 1994 and incorporated it into the main body of the legislation (what is known as Chapter IX). By 1998, much of the commercial shipping community was required to be in compliance with the ISM Code. By 2002, almost all of the international shipping community was required to comply with the ISM Code.

In order to comply with the ISM Code, each ship class must have a working Safety Management System (SMS). Each SMS consists of the following elements:

• Commitment from top management
• A Top Tier Policy Manual
• A Procedures Manual that documents what is done on board the ship
• Procedures for conducting both internal and external audits to ensure the ship is doing what is documented in the Procedures Manual
• A Designated Person to serve as the link between the ships and shore staff
• A system for identifying where actual practices do not meet those that are documented and for implementing associated corrective action
• Regular management reviews

Another part of the ISM is the mandatory Planned Maintenance System, which is used as a tool for maintaining the vessel according to the specified maintenance intervals.

Each ISM-compliant ship is audited, first by the company (internal audit) and then every 2.5 to 3 years by the Flag State Marine Administration to verify the fulfilment and effectiveness of their Safety Management System. Once the SMS is verified and it is working and effectively implemented, the ship is issued with the Safety Management Certificate. Comments from the auditor and/or audit body and from the ship are incorporated into the SMS by headquarters.

The full requirement of ISM Code 2002 is given later in this Appendix. In creating the family business knowledge framework, the ISM Code is carefully considered, as it plays an important role and needs to be fully included in the intended knowledge framework.