Preparing For Code Compliance

The ISM Code will become mandatory for all RoRo passenger ferries on July 1, 1997. This will be followed by chemical, gas and bulk carriers; oil tankers; high speed cargo craft over 500-gt; passenger vessels and high-speed passenger craft compliance by July 1, 1998; and conformance to ISM standards by all other cargo ships and mobile offshore drillling units by July 1, 2001. Lloyd's Register has announced that eighteen ships owned or managed by three Dutch companies — Jo Tankers, Wagenborg Shipping and North Sea Ferries — have become the first vessels to receive ISM Code certificates from the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate (NIS), the arm of the Directorate-General of Shipping and Maritime Affairs that issues certification after a classification society completes mandated audits.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has announced that it will offer shipowners and operators free ISM two-day seminars worldwide. The first day of the seminar sessions cover Code requirements, similarities to ISO 9000 and the certification process. The second day offers a workshop in which participants learn to flow-chart processes, write procedures and understand document-control issues; followed by afternoon workshop covering requirements for implementing a management system based on the ISM Code and ISO 9000. For more information on seminar dates and locations, write to ABS at 16855 Northcase Drive, Houston, Texas 77060-6008, or call (713) 873- 0700; fax: (713) 874-9551