As per SOLAS Chapter IX every vessel over
500grt is required to have an onboard Safety Management System (SMS)
International Safety Management (ISM) is a
small chapter but with huge implications for the industry. It is the main
driver for safety and protection of the environment and encompasses everything
that happens on a ship.
As part of ISM and the onboard SMS, it is mandatory
that a Company Safety Officer (CSO) and Designated Person Ashore (DPA) are
contracted to manage the SMS on behalf of the vessels owners. This is a legal
requirement of all IMO signatory Flag States.
With many years experience of internal and
external audits and surveys it was a natural progression for me to qualify as
an ISM DPA/Auditor. I can now be
contracted by the vessels’ owners to operate as CSO/DPA and set up the vessels
onboard SMS. The process involves meeting the Owner and/or Captain onboard and
working through all onboard procedures to produce a targeted and simplified SMS
that is boat specific and meets the needs of both, the crew, the owner and the
Law.
As well as the SMS I can assist the Captain
in producing a boat specific Safety and Training Manual which is also a
requirement as well as Risk Assessment, Permit to Work, Emergency Towing
Procedures, SOPEP (NTVRP for US based yachts) etc etc
Some Flag States are also now asking
vessels under 500grt to run a, so called, Mini-ISM in the hopes that this
improves the safety culture onboard. I can assist in setting this up and
maintaining it as DPA.
In short, for all your CSO/DPA/Auditing
needs I am available to assist either on a one off basis or contracted.
