MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.8
28 June 2013
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT
(ISM) CODE
BY COMPANIES
1
The Maritime
Safety Committee, at its ninety-second session (12 to 21 June 2013), and the
Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its sixty-fifth session
(13 to 17 May 2013), agreed to review
the existing Guidelines for the operational implementation of the International
Safety Management (ISM)
Code by Companies (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5), with a view to enhancing
the efficiency and user-friendliness of the
ISM Code.
2
Accordingly, the Committees approved the Revised Guidelines for the operational
implementation of the International Safety
Management (ISM) Code by Companies, as set out in
the annex.
3
Member Governments and
international organizations concerned are recommended to bring this circular to
the attention of all parties concerned.
4
This circular revokes
MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5.
ANNEX
REVISED GUIDELINES FOR THE OPERATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT
(ISM) CODE
BY COMPANIES
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
The ISM Code
1.1.1
The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships
and for Pollution Prevention (International Safety Management (ISM)
Code) was adopted
by the Organization by
resolution A.741(18) and became mandatory by virtue of the entry into force on 1 July 1998 of SOLAS chapter IX on Management for the Safe Operation
of Ships. The ISM Code provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.
1.1.2
The Maritime
Safety Committee, at its ninety-second session
(12 to 21 June 2013), adopted by resolution MSC.353(92) amendments to sections
3, 6, 12, 14, and footnotes of the
ISM Code. As a result it was necessary
to revise the Guidelines for the operational implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM)
Code by Companies (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5) which
are superseded by these Revised
Guidelines.
1.1.3
The ISM Code requires
that Companies establish
safety objectives as described
in section 1.2 (Objectives) of the ISM Code, and in addition
that the Companies develop, implement
and maintain a safety management system
which includes functional requirements as listed
in section 1.4 (Functional requirements for a safety
management system) of the
ISM Code.
1.1.4
The application of the ISM Code should support and encourage the development
of a safety culture in shipping.
Success factors for the development of a culture that promotes safety and environmental protection are, inter alia,
commitment, values and beliefs and clarity of the
Safety Management System.
2
SCOPE AND APPLICATION
2.1
Definitions
The
terms used in these Revised
Guidelines have the same meaning
as those given
in the ISM Code.
2.2
Scope and application
2.2.1
These Revised
Guidelines establish the basic principles for:
.1
reviewing the safety management system by a Company;
.2
the role of the
Designated Person under the ISM Code;
.3
reporting and analysing of
non-conformities, accidents and hazardous
occurrences (including near-misses);
.4
performing internal
audits and management reviews,
and do not reduce or replace
the Company's responsibilities outlined in the ISM Code.
3
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
3.1
The ISM Code requires that Companies establish
safety objectives as described in section 1.2 of the ISM Code,
and in addition that Companies develop, implement and maintain a safety management system
(SMS) which includes
functional requirements as listed in section
1.4 of the ISM Code.
3.2
Given the self-regulatory principles of the ISM Code, the internal verification and review processes are key elements
in the implementation of each SMS. The Company should
consider the outcome of internal audits,
internal SMS reviews
and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences to enhance the effectiveness of operations and procedures within their SMS.
To
comply with the Code,
the Company should:
.1
designate a person or persons with direct access to the highest level of
management who should
monitor the safe operation of each ship (section
4);
.2
ensure that adequate resources
and shore-based support are provided to enable
the designated person or persons
to carry out their functions (section 3.3);
.3
define and document the
master's responsibility with regard
to reviewing the safety management system
and reporting its deficiencies to the
shore-based management (section 5.1);
.4
establish procedures for reporting and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences (section
9.1);
.5
periodically evaluate
the effectiveness of, and when needed, review of the safety management system
(section 12.2); and
.6
perform internal audits
to verify whether safety management activities comply with the requirements of the safety
management system (section 12.1).
4
DESIGNATED PERSON
4.1
A key role, as identified
by the ISM Code, in the effective
implementation of a safety management system is that of the Designated Person. This is the person
based ashore whose influence and responsibilities
should significantly affect the development and implementation of a safety culture within the Company.
4.2
The designated person should verify and monitor all safety and pollution
prevention activities in the
operation of each ship. This monitoring should include, at least, the following
internal processes:
.1
communication and implementation of the safety
and environmental protection policy;
.2
evaluation and review of the effectiveness of the safety
management system;
.3
reporting and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences;