Relevance of the ISM code in improving safety of life at sea : the effectiveness of port states and flag states controls

• Main Author: Soh, Alicia Ling Yu.
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies::Maritime management and business
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40062
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report provides a discussion on the effectiveness of the current regulatory regime in enforcing safety of life at sea. The roles of the port states and flag state administrations with regards to safety, are introduced in the report through the implementation of the ISM Code. Through literature reviews, a hypothesis was drawn up to conclude that the regulatory regime was ineffective in its enforcement of the Code, therefore substandard ships continue to operate in the industry at present. However, further investigation brought results that given the limitations of each regulatory power, the current regulatory framework is sufficient. This was supported by surveys and interviews results which showed that most ship operators’ believed in the benefits of implementing the ISM Code, and most also agreed on the effectiveness of the regulatory regime. This brought attention to the fact that the regime is constantly changing and the parties involved are continuously trying to improve it. Therefore, the report concludes that the current regulatory regime is sufficient but the practice of actual implementation depends on the company culture, which determines the efforts of the ship operators themselves to comply with the ISM Code and ensure safety of life at sea.