30 April 2021
Any commercial ship or passenger ship weighing over 500GT is required to comply with the ISM Code.
Superyachts and mega yachts MUST also respect the rules and international standards it’s aiming to uphold.
But what are they? And what exactly is a captain or owner required to do?
The ISM Code is an international set of guidelines that a vessel and its crew (on-board and on-shore) must adhere to so that safety is not compromised and pollution prevention is present, as per the SOLAS requirements.
The ISM Code’s full name is ‘The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention’.
To adhere to the rules of ISM Compliance, a vessel must hold two ISM certificates:
Document of Compliance: The DOC is issued to the operating company, following external verification of compliance. Valid for five years, it must be verified annually within three months of the functioning date of the vessel’s Safety Management System (SMS).
Safety Management Certificate: Issued to the individual vessel, this document states that the Company and its management operate safely and in accordance with the approved Safety Management System. Once issued, the SMC is valid for five years or until any modifications are carried out.
For more in-depth details, the UK Government has published an extensive ISM code PDF which is FREE to download.
The 55-page document outlines all the essential procedural requirements needed to achieve ISM Code certification.
Click now to download the ISM Code PDF and keep for future reference.
ISM Compliance is a statutory requirement for commercially-registered yachts (in addition to ISPS), as it ensures the highest operational safety standards are in place.
Whilst it is NOT a legal requirement for privately-registered yachts, Wilson Yacht Management does recommend full compliance. So do most Flag States.
To avoid procedural violations and minimise the risk of being involved in an accident, we’re proud to offer ISM Compliance as part of our annual management package.
In accordance with the ISM Code, commercially-registered yachts must comply with either the Passenger Yacht Code (PYC) or MCA Large Yacht Code (LY3), and obtain a Safety Management Certificate from the relevant Flag State.
To achieve this, Wilson Yacht Management provide owners and captains with extensive managerial advice and assistance.
Should a serious emergency occur – such as a fire, flood, collision, technical or medical incident, we are available 24/7 to provide ‘Crisis Support’ for the Captain and Crew.
This is a necessary requirement of the ISM Code, which states that documented procedures and checklists must in place for use in an emergency. We also produce and provide this ‘Emergency Procedures Booklet’ to be kept on the Bridge as a quick reference guide.
Wilson Yacht Management Group can support vessels anywhere in the world. Ships we manage can regularly be found in the Far East, Australia, the North and South Pacific, Canada, Alaska, India, the Indian Ocean, Alaska, North and South America and across Europe.
If you’d like us to ensure you’re vessel is ISM compliant, please get in touch or call +44 (0)1482 648322 – we can handle single or multi-asset fleets.
WYM Group have been managing our 200ft yacht since 2018 and we are totally satisfied with their services. They have a wealth of experience and are always efficient and diligent in all our dealings.
Scott, Owner's Representative
The complex aspects of managing any large yacht are no mean feat, but Allan and his team are always there to assist when needed. They handle everything with drive and knowledge, building the perfect environment for the owner and Captain to develop confidence and trust.
Oscar, Master Mariner
Thank you for your excellent service with the management of our client's 60 metre Feadship - we are pleased with how seamlessly you've done what we need.
Steve, Family Office Representative
