|
The
International Maritime Organisation
has urged member states to finalise
the ISM Code certification of ships
entitled to fly their flags as
required by SOLAS regulation IX/2.
The
organization pointed out that ships
which were not certified in
accordance with the ISM Code would
be regarded as not being in
compliance with the requirements of
the SOLAS Convention.
The
ISM Code for Safe Management of
Ships and for Pollution Prevention
addresses the responsibilities of
the people who manage and operate
and provide an international
standard for the safe management and
operation of ships and for pollution
prevention.
The
Code establishes safety-management
objectives and requires a safety
management system to be established
by the Company (which is defined as
the shipowner, or any person, such
as the manager or bareboat charterer,
who has assumed responsibility for
operating the ship).
IMO
said the implementation of the Code
for passenger ships, including
passenger high speed craft, oil
tankers, chemical tankers, gas
carriers, bulk carriers and cargo
high speed craft of 500 gross
tonnage (and upwards) came under the
phase 1 of the Code in July 8 1998.
From
1 July 2002 other cargo ships,
including general cargo ships and
container ships and mobile offshore
drilling units of 500 gross tonnage
and above must comply with the Code.
“It
is important that governments are
mindful of the considerable time
needed for effectively implementing
the ISM Code and thus the need for
well-planned time schedule for the
implementation process, which should
be in place in good time before the
Code’s implementation date of 1
July 2002,” IMO said in circular.
|
