The International Safety Management Code (ISM) provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for prevention of pollution.
This is entirely in keeping with the company’s policies in this area, which state that accident prevention, safety, and environmental protection have top priority in the company’s planning, project operations and equipment maintenance. The ISM also furthers the corporate goal of fostering attitudes of careful awareness of safety and environmental concerns on the part of all its employees.
The code became a worldwide requirement for ship owners and operators when it was ratified by the International Maritime Organization in 1994, the U.S. Coast Guard in 1997, and has been incorporated into the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) rules. The code requires that ship owners develop and implement safety management systems for all their self-propelled ships of 500 gross tons and over. All of the NATCO and Great Lakes hopper dredges are affected by this international law.
The objective of the ISM Code is to reduce maritime accidents. It is estimated that over 80 percent of maritime casualties can be attributed to human errors in design, construction, maintenance and/or operations. The code focuses on management commitment and the development of and adherence to documented policies and procedures to assure safe vessel operation and protection of the marine environment. Activities and tasks that affect safety and environmental protection, both ashore and afloat, must be planned, organized, executed and verified to safeguard these values.
Over the last two years, the GLD&D Safety Department has developed a safety management system to assure that the company complies with the code. The system has been implemented on the company’s hopper dredges, and there is an ongoing SMS familiarization training program for Oak Brook personnel and vessel personnel.
The ISMC is subject to independent, third-party audit. Vessel owners must obtain a fleet-wide Document of Compliance (DOC) and vessel-specific Safety Management Certificates (SMCs). The DOC is valid for sixty months; an annual verification audit of the Oak Brook office is required. SMCs are valid for sixty months and are subject to an intermediate verification audit aboard each hopper dredge every thirty months. A civil penalty will be imposed on owners and masters of vessels operated without proper certification and the vessel could be barred from entering or departing U.S. or foreign ports.
The Code became international law in nearly 150 nations on July 1, 1998. Our hopper dredges must be fully compliant before July 1, 2002.
To bring you up to date on Great Lakes' efforts, and apprise you regarding forthcoming milestones, the following actions have been taken or are planned for the future.
August 28, 2001: A document review of our SMS was conducted by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Our system was approved.
November 6, 2001: A pre-audit was conducted by an ABS auditor of our Oak Brook office for compliance with the SMS.
Dec. 1 - 31, 2001: Internal audits of the SMS by members of GLD&D Safety Department were conducted at Oak Brook and aboard one Great Lakes hopper dredge.
December 18 - 19, 2001: A two-day initial audit was conducted by ABS at Oak Brook for the purpose of obtaining our corporate certificate of compliance.
January to March, 2002: ABS auditors conducted vessel audits aboard the Liberty Island, Victoria Island, Sugar Island, Dodge Island, Padre Island, Manhattan Island and Northerly Island. The company’s compliance with the ISM’s requirements and successful completion of the audits is essential to the continuing international operation of our company. If we do not comply with the ISM, the company will no longer be allowed to operate in or transit international waters or pass through the Panama Canal after July 1, 2002. Examples of what the company is required to accomplish under the ISM include:
- Document the proper manning of our vessels with personnel who have the correct job skills, training, license and/or merchant mariners document.
- Procure and deliver materials necessary to maintain and operate our vessels in compliance with all applicable international and local regulations.
- Provide for safe practices in ship operation and a safe working environment.
- Establish safeguards against all identified risks.
- Continuously improve safety management skills of personnel aboard ships and ashore, including preparation for emergencies relative to both to safety issues and environmental protection.
GLD&D’s senior management is committed to taking an aggressive, pro-active approach to safety and environmental protection. SMS programs such as the International Safety Management Code and the Responsible Carrier Program for the operation of our tugboats will help us achieve management’s long-term objectives. We hope this information has been helpful in your understanding of the ISM Code and its importance to the company.