Effectiveness of safety management system (SMS) by malaysian shipping companies in compliance to the international safety management (ISM)code

Abstract

ISM Code claimed as an effective and valuable method in improving the safety culture in Maritime Industry that could lead to the continuous improvement of safety performance. The benefit of the implementation of the ISM Code for Maritime Industry in Malaysia was evaluated by examining the key elements of the ISM Code and their effectiveness. The key elements assessed include the safely and environmental Protection Policy, Company responsibility and authority, Designated person ashore, master's responsibility and authority, resources and personnel, development of plans for shipboard operation, emergency preparedness, reports and analysis of nonconformities that include accident and hazardous occurrences, maintenance of ship equipment, documentations, company verification, review and certification. Therefore, an effective Safely Management System (SMS) highly depend upon a well documented and structure system to address the cause of the Safely, Environmental protection and pollution prevention problem and to correct it. Therefore this study will give an overall idea of the safely management framework being implemented by Malaysian shipping companies.