ISM CODE

ISM CODE IN DETAIL

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 
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1: The ISM Code was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) by resolution
    A.741(18).

2: 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.

3: In addition companies must develop, implement and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS) which includes functional requirements as listed in section 1.4 of the ISM Code.

4: Chapter IX: Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
The main purpose of the new chapter is to make the International Safety Management (ISM) Code mandatory. By adding the ISM Code to SOLAS it is intended to provide an international standard for the safe management of ships and for pollution prevention.
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.