The primary purpose of the ISM (International Safety Management) Code is to provide an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and pollution prevention.

The main objectives, as given in Part 1.2 of the Code, are to:

• Ensure safety at sea.
• Prevent human injury or loss of life.
• Prevent damage to the environment, particularly the marine environment, and to property.
• Provide safe practices in ship operation and establish a safe working environment.
• Assess all identified risks to ships, personnel and the environment, and establish appropriate safeguards against them.
• Continuously improve the safety-management skills of personnel ashore and on board ships, including preparation for emergencies related to safety and environmental protection.

Chapter 6 of the ISM Code requires the Company to ensure that the ship is adequately manned and properly supported.

The main requirements are:

• Master's Qualifications: The Company must ensure that the Master is properly qualified to command the ship, fully familiar with the Company's Safety Management System (SMS), and provided with the necessary support to perform duties safely.
• Manning: The ship must be manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers, in accordance with national and international requirements.
• Familiarization: Procedures must be established to ensure that new personnel, or personnel transferred to new assignments involving safety and environmental protection, receive proper familiarization with their duties before sailing.
• Understanding and Training: All personnel involved in the SMS must understand the relevant rules, regulations, codes and guidelines. The Company must identify and provide the training necessary to support the SMS.
• Communication: All SMS information must be communicated in a working language or languages understood by the ship's personnel.

Chapter 5 of the ISM Code clearly defines the Master's role in the SMS.

The Company must clearly state in the SMS that the Master has overriding authority and responsibility to make decisions regarding safety and pollution prevention, and to request the Company's assistance whenever necessary.

The Master is responsible for:

• Implementing the Company's safety and environmental protection policy.
• Motivating the crew to observe and follow the policy.
• Issuing appropriate orders and instructions in a clear and simple manner.
• Verifying that the specified requirements are observed.
• Periodically reviewing the SMS and reporting any deficiencies to the shore-based management.

To comply with the ISM Code, every Company must develop, implement and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS).

As outlined in Chapter 1.4, the SMS must include:

• A safety and environmental protection policy.
• Instructions and procedures to ensure safe operation of ships and protection of the environment, in compliance with relevant international and Flag State legislation.
• Clearly defined levels of authority and lines of communication between, and among, shore-based and shipboard personnel.
• Procedures for reporting accidents and non-conformities with the provisions of the ISM Code.
• Procedures to prepare for and respond to emergency situations.
• Procedures for internal audits and management reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of the SMS and continuously improve it.