Critical factors for successful implementation of the ISM Code in some Pacific Islands states

Although the International Safety Management (ISM) Code was fully implemented from July 1st 2002, not all countries signatories to the Code, particularly developing countries such as Pacific Islands states, are successful in the introduction and implementation of the instrument. In this paper, we aim to determine factors that facilitate the successful implementation of the ISM Code particularly for the above-named region. Through a thorough literature review, a model of 11 critical factors for the Code implementation success was proposed. These factors were empirically tested using the triangulation of a survey of a group of maritime administration personnel and shipping companies in Fiji and two indepth interviews with senior officers in the Samoa Maritime Administration during the period June–August 2007. The proposed factors were verified by both survey respondents and interview informants, i.e., that maritime safety awareness rooted in a safety culture, senior management commitment and leadership across organisations and the industry, employee involvement and empowerment, enforcement capability of flag state administrations, application of quality management principles in safety management systems, rationalisation of documentation, among others, are essential to the successful implementation of the Code. This research hopes to contribute to the literature and to provide maritime administrations and shipping companies in the Pacific Islands states with additional reference and information that will help expedite the effective implementation of the ISM Code. The need for future research directions is expressed in this paper. Additional investigations, e.g., conducting the same research in other Pacific Islands states as well as in other developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, would enhance the validity and reliability of this study’s findings.     

基于国际安全管理规则的安全管理观念和方法

分析ISM规则所创导的船舶安全管理观念的基本出发点和安全管理方法中的主要依据和具体方法,认为提高对ISM规则的理解和认识,可促进船舶安全和防污染工作的有效开展。     

香港地区实施ISM工作现状及思考

文中介绍了香港地区实施ISM规则(国际安全管理规则)机构、立法及实施的相关情况,着重分析了《香港商船(安全)条例》涉及ISM规则的有关规定和执行,总结了香港地区航运公司管理和实施ISM规则的特点,提出了国内ISM/NSM规则的实施及相关工作的建议。     

An empirical assessment of ISM Code effectiveness on performance: the role of ISO certification

ABSTRACT

Although the introduction of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code aimed at increasing the safety standards in the maritime industry, several studies conducted so far argue for its inability to successfully fulfill its goals. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the ISM Code effectiveness by drawing analogy from similar applications of ISO 9001 effectiveness in service companies. It also aims to determine its impact on firm performance and differentiate between ISO and non-ISO-certified shipping companies. Findings indicate that ISM Code effectiveness consists of two dimensions, namely continuous improvement and customer satisfaction focus, and the significance of its contribution on improving company performance is revealed, especially in the case of ISO-certified shipping companies. Moreover, the continuous improvement dimension was found to affect performance at a greater extent.     

基于ISM规则的安全文化建设

ISM规则提供的是体系化的科学管理方法,总结和借鉴了世界许多领域现代化的管理经验,特别是航运安全管理的经验,是对国际航运安全文化的重大发展。通过ISM规则对安全文化建设的分析,提出航运企业安全文化建设的途径。     

Maritime safety and the ISM code: a study of investigated casualties and incidents

In 1993, the International Maritime Organization adopted the International Safety Management (ISM) Code which requires all shipping companies operating certain types of vessels to establish safety management systems. Nevertheless, two decades later, maritime safety remains a concern. This article studies 94 maritime cases investigated by the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch in the UK. By providing an analysis of reported casualties and incidents, it highlights current challenges in maritime safety. For each casualty and incident, the study reviews the underlying causal factors. These causal factors are then coded according to the functional sections of the ISM Code, covering various aspects of safety management. To investigate human and organizational factors involved in the casualties and incidents, the human factor analysis and classification system (HFACS) is applied to code the same data. Finally, the relative seriousness of casualties and incidents is considered to discuss the findings from ISM Code and HFACS reviews. The study found that the main challenges pertain to the development of plans for shipboard operations, local shipboard management, and the ability of the company to verify when such practices deviate from best practices or required standards.     

“油船管理及自我评估”（TMSA）对ISM的推动

TMSA（Tanker Management and Self Assessment）即＂油船管理及自我评估＂,旨在通过各油船船东推行TMSA来持续改进自身的管理体系,全面提高自身的安全、环境管理等方面的水平。文中通过对TMSA的理解和一些做法的总结,阐明了TMSA对ISM规则持续改进方面的推动作用。     

Incident reporting in Finnish shipping companies

The purpose of the International Safety Management Code (the ISM Code) is to promote safety culture in the maritime industry. Learning the lessons from incidents should help to improve safety performance since incidents and accidents can share the same root causes. The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at incident reporting in the Finnish shipping industry, to study the reasons for poor incident reporting and to suggest improvements to increase reporting. The paper consists of a literature study, which focuses on previous studies concerning incident reporting, and an interview study, which focuses on Finnish shipping companies and their personnel. The interview study confirmed that incident reporting does not function properly within the Finnish maritime industry. The maritime personnel have an occupational culture which is incompatible with the rule-based safety management approach provided by the ISM Code. The willingness to report incidents could be increased if all seafarers were involved in the reporting process and the preparation of corrective actions. In addition, the reporting procedures should be streamlined and developed to a more user-friendly direction.     

现代航运业发展与船舶配员减少引起的安全问题分析

由于现代航运业的发展与船舶配员减少等原因，海上船舶安全出现了新的问题。文中从船员疲劳、ISM规则实施以及公司追求利益等方面进行分析，提出了相应解决上述问题的意见和建议。     

Seafarers’ perceptions of competency in risk assessment and management: an empirical study

Past analysis of accident investigations suggest an absence of or inadequate practices of risk assessment and management on board vessels. Although the International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (ISM Code) requires that the risk management process must not only be correctly formulated and implemented but also be periodically evaluated in order to verify that these objectives are attained, the correct and effective implementation and application of the process cannot be achieved without active involvement of competent seafarers on board. Due to the limited investigation of seafarers’ competencies in risk management, the reasons for the inadequacies in the process that are leading to accidents were not evident. Hence, using a survey, this paper conducted a pilot study investigating seafarers’ perceptions of competency in the various components of the risk management process conducted on board vessels. The findings of this paper suggest an overall satisfaction with the risk assessment process. However, there is certainly room for improvement as far as seafarers’ performance is concerned. The findings of this paper provided valuable insights into the current training regimes in the area of risk assessment and management paving the way towards enhanced safety procedures on board vessels.     

The human talent and its role in ISM Code effectiveness and competitiveness in the shipping industry

The present study empirically evaluates the role of human talent in the effective implementation of quality management systems in the shipping industry context. Specifically, we analyze the relationships among top management commitment to quality, ISM (International Safety Management) Code effectiveness and competitiveness as well as we assess the influence of talent in these associations. We test our research hypotheses using a sample of 199 shipping companies located in Greece. The findings show that ISM Code effectiveness acts as a mediator between top management commitment and shipping company competitiveness, while the different talent philosophies were found to moderate this relationship.     

“指定人员”的地位与职责分析

"指定人员"是<国际船舶安全营运和防止污染管理规则>中的重要条款之一,在ISM规则(International Safety Management Code for the Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention)结构中的地位仅次于"公司的责任和权力".如何充分发挥其对船舶安全管理体系运行应中有的监控作用,成为企业安全文化的一部分,对其作用的认识和定位是个关键.该问题不仅会影响到船舶安全管理体系运行的有效性,还会影响到安全管理水平的螺旋式提高.     

ISM规则对海上保险的影响

就ISM规则的实施对海上保险的影响进行了介绍,规则对被保险人的告知义务、默示保证、重要情况的认定及保险人举证方面产生的影响;在责任险方面,符合规则规定将是保赔协会作为承保责任险的条件。     

再谈安全营运与安全管理

借助ISM规则全面实施的时机和港口国对到港船舶实施检查的结果,剖析ISM规则的内在本质,及其在我国航运公司的安全营运与管理中不同实施阶段的主要作用。     

论执行《国际安全管理规则》对承运人适航义务认定之若干影响

国际安全管理规则（ＩＳＭＣ）已强制执行，它是迄今为止国际海事组织在船舶安全及防污染方面所制订的最为严厉的规范。其“适航管理”概念的引入必将对承运人适航义务的认定产生重大的影响，承运人提单下责任也因此而加重     

ISM Code对船舶保险除外责任的影响

ISM规则的实施不仅对航运业而且对船舶保险业产生了深远的影响。文中通过总结和介绍ISM规则实施和船舶保险除外责任的变化来诠释这种影响之大,进而从法律的角度提醒广大船公司要更加有效地运行安全与防污染管理体系,避免在船舶保险中出现不应有的损失。     

The ISM Code and the ISPS Code: A critical legal analysis of two SOLAS regimes

Within the comprehensive body of law encompassed by the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), there are two regimes that are topical and outstanding in the current maritime milieu. These are the international safety management and the international ship and port facility regimes, both characterized by two codes serving as the centre of gravity of each, namely, the ISM Code and the ISPS Code, respectively. In this article the concept of the code as a legal instrument is perused following which a critical legal analysis is carried out of the two above-mentioned Codes, including their backgrounds, the evolutionary process culminating into the regimes and their interrelationships. Several anomalies and inadequacies in the two regimes are identified but in the final analysis it is concluded that both instruments are salutary additions to the body of convention law generated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They will undoubtedly influence the continuing development of international law in the field of maritime safety and security.     

关于《国际安全管理规则》第12章的理解

《国际安全管理规则》实施以来,争议较多,特别是第12章的理解问题,更是众说纷纭。文中根据《国际安全管理规则应用指南》的解释,就《国际安全管理规则》第12章的确切含义进行探讨。     

如何正确开展ISM规则的管理复查

通过介绍ISM规则所要求船公司管理复查的目的、内容、信息输入及管理复查的实施步骤,强调管理复查作为安全管理体系自我完善的重要性,以引起船公司的足够重视。     

对体系运行中假记录的探讨

国际安全管理规则（ISM）实施后,各航运公司相继实施了体系化管理,体系的建立与运行推动了各航运公司的各项管理工作,对保障船公司船舶安全与防污染起到了根本性的作用。然而,体系运行的有效性问题一直困扰着各家公司。本文分析了体系运行中＂假记录＂的产生原因、危害及治理方法,仅供同行参考。