TheInternationalSafetyManagement(ISM)CodeAnnextoIMOAssemblyResolutionA.741(18)-1993PREAMBLE1.ThepurposeofthisCodeistoprovideaninternationalstandardforthesafemanagementandoperationofshipsandforpollutionprevention.2.TheAssemblyadoptedresolutionA.443(XI)bywhichitinvitedallGovernmentstotakethenecessarystepstosafeguardtheshipmasterintheproperdischargeofhisresponsibilitieswithregardtomaritimesafetyandtheprotectionofthemarineenvironment.3.TheAssemblyalsoadoptedresolutionA.680(17)bywhichitfurtherrecognizedtheneedforappropriateorganizationofmanagementtoenableittorespondtotheneedofthoseonboardshipstoachieveandmaintainhighstandardsofsafetyandenvironmentalprotection.4.Recognizingthatnotwoshippingcompaniesorshipownersarethesame,andthatshipsoperateunderawiderangeofdifferentconditions,theCodeisbasedongeneralprinciplesandobjectives.5.TheCodeisexpressedinbroadtermssothatitcanhaveawidespreadapplication.Clearly,differentlevelsofmanagement,whethershore-basedoratsea,willrequirevaryinglevelsofknowledgeandawarenessoftheitemsoutlined.6.Thecornerstoneofgoodsafetymanagementiscommitmentfromthetop.Inmattersofsafetyandpollutionpreventionitisthecommitment,competence,attitudesandmotivationofindividualsatalllevelsthatdeterminestheendresult.1.GENERAL1.1Definitions1.1.1InternationalSafetyManagement(ISM)CodemeanstheInternationalManagementCodefortheSafeOperationofShipsandforPollutionPreventionasadoptedbytheAssembly,asmaybeamendedbytheOrganization.1.1.2CompanymeanstheOwneroftheshiporanyotherorganizationorpersonsuchastheManager,ortheBareboatCharterer,whohasassumedtheresponsibilityforoperationoftheshipfromtheShipownerandwhoonassumingsuchresponsibilityhasagreedtotakeoverallthedutiesandresponsibilityimposedbytheCode.1.1.3AdministrationmeanstheGovernmentoftheStatewhoseflagtheshipisentitledtofly.1.2Objectives1.2.1TheobjectivesoftheCodearetoensuresafetyatsea,preventionofhumaninjuryorlossoflife,andavoidanceofdamagetotheenvironment,inparticular,tothemarineenvironment,andtoproperty.1.2.2SafetymanagementobjectivesoftheCompanyshould,interalia:provideforsafepracticesinshipoperationandasafeworkingenvironment;establishsafeguardsagainstallidentifiedrisks;andcontinuouslyimprovesafetymanagementskillsofpersonnelashoreandaboardships,includingpreparingforemergenciesrelatedbothtosafetyandenvironmentalprotection.1.2.3Thesafetyandmanagementsystemshouldensure:compliancewithmandatoryrulesandregulations;andthatapplicablecodes,guidelinesandstandardsrecommendedbytheOrganization,Administrations,classificationsocietiesandmaritimeindustryorganizationsaretakenintoaccount.1.3ApplicationTherequirementsofthisCodemaybeappliedtoallships.1.4FunctionalrequirementsforaSafetyManagementSystem(SMS)EveryCompanyshoulddevelop,implementandmaintainaSafetyManagementSystem(SMS)whichincludesthefollowingfunctionalrequirements:asafetyandenvironmentalprotectionpolicy;instructionsandprocedurestoensuresafeoperationofshipsandprotectionoftheenvironmentincompliancewithrelevantinternationalandflagStatelegislation;definedlevelsofauthorityandlinesofcommunicationbetween,andamongst,shoreandshipboardpersonnel;proceduresforreportingaccidentsandnon-conformitieswiththeprovisionsofthisCode;procedurestoprepareforandrespondtoemergencysituations;andproceduresforinternalauditsandmanagementreviews.2.SAFETYANDENVIRONMENTALPROTECTIONPOLICY2.1TheCompanyshouldestablishasafetyandenvironmentalprotectionpolicywhichdescribeshowtheobjectives,giveninparagraph1.2,willbeachieved.2.2TheCompanyshouldensurethatthepolicyisimplementedandmaintainedatalllevelsoftheorganizationbothshipbasedaswellasshorebased.3.COMPANYRESPONSIBILITIESANDAUTHORITY3.1Iftheentitywhoisresponsiblefortheoperationoftheshipisotherthantheowner,theownermustreportthefullnameanddetailsofsuchentitytotheAdministration.3.2TheCompanyshoulddefineanddocumenttheresponsibility,authorityandinterrelationofallpersonnelwhomanage,performandverifyworkrelatingtoandaffectingsafetyandpollutionprevention.3.3TheCompanyisresponsibleforensuringthatadequateresourcesandshorebasedsupportareprovidedtoenablethedesignatedpersonorpersonstocarryouttheirfunctions.4.DESIGNATEDPERSON(S)Toensurethesafeoperationofeachshipandtoprovidealinkbetweenthecompanyandthoseonboard,everycompany,asappropriate,shoulddesignateapersonorpersonsashorehavingdirectaccesstothehighestlevelofmanagement.Theresponsibilityandauthorityofthedesignatedpersonorpersonsshouldincludemonitoringthesafetyandpollutionpreventionaspectsoftheoperationofeachshipandtoensurethatadequateresourcesandshorebasedsupportareapplied,asrequired.5.MASTER'SRESPONSIBILITYANDAUTHORITY5.1TheCompanyshouldclearlydefineanddocumentthemaster'sresponsibilitywithregardto:oimplementingthesafetyandenvironmentalprotectionpolicyoftheCompany;omotivatingthecrewintheobservationofthatpolicy;oissuingappropriateordersandinstructionsinaclearandsimplemanner;overifyingthatspecifiedrequirementsareobserved;andoreviewingtheSMSandreportingitsdeficienciestotheshorebasedmanagement.5.2TheCompanyshouldensurethattheSMSoperatingonboardtheshipcontainsaclearstatementemphasizi