International Safety Management (ISM) Code

Preventing an accident or a hazard from taking place is the most fundamental objective of the ISM Code. Emergency preparedness ensures that personnel onboard are ready to face hazardous situations when they arise. This readiness is achieved through the regular conduct of various drills onboard, comprehensive training of each personnel, and the assignment of specific duties for all possible emergency scenarios. Consequently, personnel are well-prepared to handle emergency situations efficiently, preventing chaos and confusion.

Any incident, accident, near-miss, or other hazardous occurrences are reported to the company. Onboard, safety meetings are conducted monthly where these reports are discussed. The occurrences and their underlying reasons are analyzed, and effective ways to prevent future similar incidents are deliberated. These findings are then reported to the shore office. The office, in turn, circulates information about such incidents to all ships within the fleet. This ensures that the incidents are discussed onboard other vessels, bringing them to the attention of their crews. This process helps to avoid future occurrences or, at the very least, enhances preparedness across the fleet.

Risk Assessment:

The ISM Code mandates that the safety management document must include a mechanism to assess any work to be done onboard for its related dangers and associated risks before the work commences. Therefore, prior to conducting any work, a risk assessment is carried out by the respective department in charge. Based on the identified risks and dangers, the working personnel are made aware of these hazards, and the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn, with safety precautions observed at all times. This proactive approach significantly reduces the possibility of accidents and fosters preparedness for any issues that might arise during the work.

Identification of Critical Equipment, Tests & Minimum Spares Requirement:

As per the ISM Code, critical equipment must be identified and given the highest maintenance preference to ensure its continuous working condition. Critical equipment refers to machinery that is essential for emergency operations and overall ship safety. Furthermore, a minimum stock of spares for these critical pieces of equipment, and other vital machinery, must be maintained onboard. This ensures that in case of a machinery breakdown (especially of critical equipment), repairs can be carried out using available spares. This prevents disruptions to shipboard operations and allows the ship to be manoeuvred to a safe location until further assistance can be accessed, if required.