HOW THE SURVEYOR HANDLING 'ISM' - 1

Ship Type and Application of the ISM Code

The date of mandatory application of the ISM Code for each ship type is specified in Regulation 2, Chapter IX of the SOLAS Convention.

(1) Ship Types for which the ISM Code came into force on 1st July 1998
Passenger ships
Passenger high-speed craft
Cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and over
Bulk carriers of 500 gross tonnage and over
Oil tankers of 500 gross tonnage and over
Chemical tankers of 500 gross tonnage and over
Gas carriers of 500 gross tonnage and over

(2) Ship Types for which the ISM Code came into force on 1st July 2002
Mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and over
Other cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and over
(cargo ships other than those specified in (1) above)
Reference only:
SOLAS Convention regulations on its application are as follows; (Annex to the Convention)
Regulations apply only to ships engaged on international voyages. (Reg.1(a), Chapter I) •
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A passenger ship is a ship which carries more than twelve passengers. (Reg.2(f), Chapter I)
A cargo ship is any ship which is not a passenger ship. (Reg.2(g), Chapter I)
Regulations do not apply to cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage. (Reg.3(a), Chapter I)

(3) Definitions of Bulk Carrier
In general, except for “Bulk Carrier” ships may be divided into certain types, by definitions prescribed in Conventions or by common sense. Notwithstanding the fact that the date of mandatory application of the ISM Code for “Bulk Carrier” differs in time by four years from the same for “Other Cargo Ship”, the definition of “Bulk Carrier” was not clear in Conventions. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee has discussed this matter, and agreed that the “Bulk Carrier” types specified in SOLAS Chapter IX are to be defined as follows:

(a) Ships constructed with a single deck, top-side tanks and hopper-side tanks in cargo spaces, and intended primarily to carry dry cargo in bulk, when a ship has different construction of cargo holds, the ship belongs to “Bulk Carrier” if she has a cargo hold of this construction for the full length of the cargo hold, but belongs to “Other Cargo Ship” if a cargo hold has this construction only for a partial part; or

(b) “Ore Carriers” which is constructed with a single deck, two longitudinal bulkheads and a double bottom throughout the cargo region and intended for the carriage of ore cargoes in the center holds only; or

(c) “Combination Carriers” as defined in SOLAS II-2 / Reg. 3. -27, which is a tanker designed to carry oil or alternatively solid cargoes in bulk.

1. Therefore, “Ore Carriers” and “Combination Carriers” belong to “Bulk Carriers” in the application of the ISM Code. On the other hand, some so called “Bulk Carriers” belong to “Other Cargo Ships”, even if they had a class notation code “BC”. Please be advised that, in this case, her “Ship Type” in application of the ISM Code becomes “Other Cargo Ship”, and her “Purpose” in the registration of Class becomes “Bulk Carrier”.

Certificates

2.1 Certificates issued to a Company

An interim DOC issued to a Company which has no practical operational experience of its SMS.

 DOC

DOC(s) shall be issued to a Company by the Flag State Government or the Head Office of ClassNK under the authority of the Flag State Government, upon successful completion of an Initial Audit after at least three months implementation of its SMS at the Company and of at least one ship of each ship type managed under the SMS. 

Therefore, when a Company manages a plural flag fleet, a plural number of DOCs shall be issued.

The period of validity of a DOC, issued after Initial Audit, shall be five years from the last date of the Audit subject to annual audit.

 As for Renewal Audit, when the same is completed within three months before the expiry date of an existing DOC, the period of validity of the new DOC shall be five years from the next day of the expiry date of the existing DOC. 

When the Renewal Audit is completed more than three months before the expiry of an existing DOC, the new DOC shall be valid from the date of completion of the Renewal Audit for a period of five years.

DOCs shall be endorsed upon the successful completion of an Annual Audit.

The original of DOCs shall be kept at the Company and a copy of the DOC, relevant to the ship and endorsed for the annual audit, shall be placed on board of each ship covered by SMS

2.2 Certificates issued to a Ship

Certificates, that may be issued to a ship, are as follows;

􀁻 SMC:

A full-term Certificate issued under the authority of a Flag State Government.

2.3 Handling of a Certificate when a Non-conformity is found

2.3.1 When a Major Non-conformity (MNC) is found

When an MNC is found, no Certificate may be issued nor be endorsed. However, if the MNC is corrected or downgraded to DNC during the audit, Short-term DOC/SMC, valid for three months, shall be issued and existing ones shall be returned. In this case, however the certificate shall become invalid, unless an Additional Audit is undertaken within three months, at the Company or onboard, to verify effective actions have been taken

2.3.2 When Non-conformities (NC) are found

When NCs are found, a Certificate may be issued or be endorsed, provided the submission of a Corrective Action Plan within two weeks is agreed, which indicates a schedule not exceeding three months. In this case, the Certificate shall become invalid if the Corrective Action Plan is not submitted within two weeks. Otherwise, please be advised that, in cases of Audit for issuing an Interim DOC or Interim SMC, Certificates shall not be issued when a NC is found.