Tag: ISM Code

Erasmia Vlachandrea, HSE & Vetting Manager, Alison Management Corp.analysed the''Best Practices on operational level from the Operator Perspective'' at the 2015 SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum. She stated that commercial vessels are by definition unsafe and mitigating safety risks is a challenging job. Over the past decades, rendering the ships safe is becoming more and more demanding as requirements get stricter and more complicated. The benefits of a well-established safety culture are never apparent immediately. She concluded that no matter the obstacles, it will pay off eventually. The nature of the safety and the shipping industry and particularly in tankers has changed radically over the last two decades as we all know, many issues have appeared and that has made us all to change our outlook on how we work; this goes especially for oil companies, seafarers onboard the vessel, Port State Controls, P&I Clubs, Classification Societies and flag administrators. When I first became a DPA during my first steps in the industry I was onboard an oil tanker on the maiden voyage and I tried to take the elevator together with the engineer but unfortunately the cabinet never arrived. When we opened the door which showed the shaft underneath, the master ...

Athanasios Theodorou, Marine Management Systems Senior Specialist, Hellenic Lloyds analyzed''ECDIS and ISM Code Procedures; Best Practices'' at the 2015 SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum. He highlighted that ECDIS is not just another piece of equipment that has to be installed on board ships . With the regulation since 2012, owners , managers urgently need to assess the implications for their fleet and to amend their procedures according to ISM code and industry requirements. Company's procedures should be tailored to meet the company's and ship needs. These can take the form of checklist (s), flow chart(s), or even more detailed written ECDIS procedures and documentation. He explained that they should be incorporated into the SMS and bridge procedures and their implementation should be verified through internal audits and navigational audits. He also said that third party audits and inspections will also assist in identification of any areas for improvement, including training. The subject of my presentation refers to the new requirements for the ECDIS implementation and the connection between ISM and companys management procedures. The time frame as you know started from the 1st July 2012 and normally has to be completed until July 2018. So, more or less we have reached almost ...

AMSA informs that Marine Order 58 has been updated to provide for the safe management and operation of vessels and pollution prevention by giving effect to Chapter IX of SOLAS which requires compliance with the ISM Code.

Advice for vessels below 500GT The Shipowners P&I Club has analyzed the benefits for the vessels below 500GT of adopting ship-specific procedural systems.Even if it is not a regulatory requirement for operators to adopt these systems on their vessels, it is advisable to adopt, as a measure of good practice, a specific procedural system to ensure an adequate level of on board safety and quality. Practically this may not be to the extent required by the ISM Code, which may be disproportional to the vessel size, but one which places procedures and record systems on board that concentrate on identifying any significant risks that may possibly arise.To ensure operators have in place systems to manage risks, periodical assessments should be made and any procedures expanded/amended as appropriate.Adopting a practical procedural system on board may assist with:improving safety culture, safety performance, operational reliability and the safe operation of the ship: it is understood that many of our smaller vessels operate within the local harbour limits and/or coastal areas but basic procedures on applicable areas such as navigation, maintenance checks, cargo operations, bunkering and towing should be made available on board. Basic safety procedures concerning daily duties such as company/Master's standing orders ...

The Shipowners P&I Club states that it is advisable to adopt, as a measure of good practice, a specific procedural system to ensure an adequate level of on board safety and quality

Helm: some 50% of crews working on offshore support vessels are willing to compromise safety rather than say no' to clients

Focus on proper anchor use, stowage, and maintenance The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued Safety Alert to remind vessel operators and company technical managers of the importance of proper ships anchor use, stowage, and maintenance.Anchor windlass brakes, riding pawls, and devils claws must be used as designed and periodically maintained to ensure effectiveness and safety. Its critical that proper supervision and inspection be conducted during and after anchoring, retrieving and storage evolutions, and maintenance activities. When installing a replacement anchor, it must meet the vessels technical specifications and fit correctly when housed.Recently, a freight ship was underway in 15 foot seas when the forepeak flood alarms activated. The crew investigated and discovered the starboard anchor had slipped 10-15 links, causing it to strike and puncture the hull. As a result, seawater flooded the bow thruster and emergency fire pump compartment. The casualty resulted in excess of $1 million in vessel damage and a months lost revenues while the vessel was out of service affecting repairs.During the repair period, it was discovered that the anchor windlass brake pad had worn down to 2- 3mm thickness. With only this amount of pad the fully applied brake could not achieve its designed holding ...

Skuld P&I Club loss prevention bulletin The Skuld P&I Club has issued a loss prevention bulletin on the ISM Code and its compliance for tanker vessels.The International Safety Management Code comes with a mandatory compliance requirement by virtue of its adoption in to SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Chapter IX, and has come in to force since 1st July 1998. The background for the Code is certain tragic Shipping accidents including the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987 and the loss of the Estonia in 1994.Under the Code, effective for most vessels (including Tankers) of 500 gt and above from 1998 and for other cargo ships and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gt and above from 2002, Companies needed to develop, implement and maintain a Safety Management Systems (SMS) for their vessels. Compliance requires both shore (Management) and ship side (Officers and Ratings) implementationThe Code aims to ensure safety at sea, the prevention of injury to ensure safety at sea, the prevention of injury and loss of life, and protection of the marine environment, in addition to ensuring safe practices on vessels and the creation of a safe working environment for crews. An unmentioned objective is the sustainability ...

IMO adopted amendments to the ISM Code through MSC.353(92) The IMO Maritime Safety Committee in its Session 92 adopted amendments to the ISM Code through IMO Resolution MSC.353(92) which shall enter into force on 1 January 2015.The amendments to the ISM Code are as follows:Paragraph 6.2 has been amended requiring the Company to ensure that each ship is:manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers in accordance with national andinternational requirements andappropriately manned ships in order to encompass all aspects of maintaining safe operationsonboard.A new Paragraph 12.2 has also been adopted requiring the Company to:periodically verify whether all those undertaking delegated ISM-related tasks are acting inconformity with the Company's responsibilities under the CodeThe amended ISM-Code includes various new footnotes with guidelines and recommendations developed by the IMO. Although the footnotes given in the ISM-Code are inserted for reference andguidance purposes and do not constitute requirements under the Code, in accordance with paragraph1.2.3.2, all relevant guidelines, recommendations, etc. should be taken into account.The following guidelines have been added as footnotes to the amended ISM-Code:Procedures concerning observed ISM Code major non-conformitiesList of codes, recommendations, guidelines and other safety and security related mandatory instrumentsRevised Guidelines for the operational implementation of the International Safety ...