What Is International Safety Management?

International Safety Management, or ISM for short, is a code adopted worldwide which ensures that yachts and ship are managed and operated safely. The code also acts to prevent pollution.

The International Maritime Organisation requires that all commercial ships of over 500 tons gross should adopt the International Safety Management (IMS) code. For smaller vessels under 500 tons, but over 24 metres, there is what is known as a Mini International Safety management code

The three basic aims of the ISM code are to ensure safety on the seas, the prevention of loss of life, and the avoidance of damage to ships and also the environment.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea chose to adopt the ISM code, which had been drawn up a year earlier, in 1994. Within four years most of the world's commercial shipping were obliged to be in compliance. By 2002 that obligation had been adopted by most international shipping.

In order to comply with ISM, each vessel must have a safety management system - SMS. This must consist of a top level policy manual, a manual outlining procedures on board, detailed external and internal audit policies, and a person designated to act as liaison between the ship and onshore. Also there should be a procedure to identify where these systems fall short and how they can be corrected, as well as regular reviewing of ship management practices.

An important part of the ISM regime is the planned maintenance system for yachts and ships. This allows operators or owners to undertake maintenance at intervals determined by the vessels classification and manufacturers. This is a formal process which supervised by personnel on board and which is duly documented.

To ensure that ships and vessels fully comply with ISM standards, they are regularly checked by their relevant classification society - non government organisations in the worldwide shipping industry. These bodies' - or Class - role is to set and maintain building standards for ships. As well as supervising construction, they carry out checks to see if these standards are being maintained.

Because no two ships or shipping companies are the same, and the fact that they all operate under differing circumstances, ISM is based, as of necessity, on quite general objectives. However, this allows the code to be all embracing. This is essential in ensuring that International Safety Management ensures the safety of vessels, crew and the environment.