23A.1 General Requirements
(1) All vessels under 500GT shall employ a safety management system as described in
this Chapter
(2) All vessels shall include emergency towing procedures, as required by SOLAS
II-1/3-4, in their safety management system or in a separate plan.
23A.2 Introduction
(1) The purpose of this Annex is to provide guidance on how to develop and implement
an effective safety management system for vessels under 500GT, where full
certification to the International Safety Management Code is not a requirement.
23A.3 General
(1) Each operator shall create a safe working environment, which shall include the
following:
23A.4 Health and Safety Protection Policy.
(1) This shall address the issues of health, safety and the environment as they
affect the company and its staff, both ashore and afloat. Such a policy might read
along the following lines:
"The policy of (name of Company/Owner) is to conduct its activities taking full
account of the health and safety of its employees and of all persons using or
connected with the Company/Owner. In implementing this policy, (name of
Company/Owner) shall ensure that the [vessel] is, at all times, properly
maintained and operated by qualified personnel in full compliance with relevant
legislation. In particular the [Company/Owner] shall carry out an assessment of
the risks to the health and safety of workers and others affected by [the
undertaking], and shall take the necessary measures to minimise the risks
identified."
(2) The Company/Owner is recommended to develop and implement an oil management plan
to the same standard as the garbage management plan and to integrate it with the
Health and Safety Protection Policy. This is not required for vessels over 400GT,
for which an IOPP certificate is required.
23A.5 Procedures to Ensure Safe Operation of Vessels in Compliance with the
Regulations and Rules.
(1) The regulations and rules, not addressed by this Code of Practice, which apply to
all vessels include, but are not limited to:
(2) The company shall draw up simple procedures to ensure that safe working practices
are carried out in the operation of the vessel. These may be in the form of
checklists which can be followed by all personnel.
(3) For some vessels, it might be appropriate to have permanently exhibited
checklists, e.g. in the wheelhouse for navigational items. Alternatively, in a
smaller vessel, the record could take any suitable form such as a diary as distinct
from a specially printed logbook. Whatever form the record takes, such entries shall
be accepted as evidence of compliance with the ONBOARD PROCEDURES requirements.
23A.6 Lines of Communication Between Personnel, Ashore and Afloat.
(1) Responsibility and authority of each employee shall be clear. This may be best
illustrated in a simple diagram, showing who reports to whom.
23A.7 Procedures for Reporting Accidents.
(1) The requirement for reporting accidents shall be well understood by all personnel
and in so doing improve the safety culture practiced onboard.
23A.8 Procedures for Responding to Emergency Situations.
(1) There shall be clearly stated procedures for responding to emergency situations.
These may include but not be limited to:
(2) Checklists may be useful in this regard.
23A.9 Health and Safety Protection Policy
(1) One or more competent persons shall be delegated to take responsibility for
health and safety, and that person/persons shall be clearly identified. It is the
responsibility of the Company/Owner to ensure that the policy is complied with, and
that the responsibilities are understood.
(2) The Company/Owner shall develop a policy on prevention of alcohol and drug abuse.
(3) All personnel both ashore and afloat have a duty to take care of themselves and
other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
(4) It is essential that, in the event of an emergency, there is the ability to
communicate with the emergency services via a shore base. The shore base may be the
company office ashore, the local Coastguard, Police or Fire Station, or another
office as may be agreed between the vessel and the shore base.
23A.10 Responsibilities
(1) The Master shall have authority at all times, to make decisions with regard to
the safety of the vessel and the persons onboard. To ensure that there is no
ambiguity regarding the authority of the Master, there shall be a simple written
statement to this effect.
23A.11 Personnel and Training
(1) All personnel shall receive training appropriate to the tasks they undertake. It
is the responsibility of the Company/Owner to ensure that this training is given,
and that the personnel have an understanding of the relevant regulations and rules.
As a minimum, this means:
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(a) for the Master, the relevant qualifications;
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(b) for the crew, relevant qualifications and any additional training
appropriate to their designated duties.
(2) Prior to the first occasion of working on the vessel, each employee shall receive
appropriate familiarisation training and proper instruction in onboard procedures.
This could include, but not necessarily be, limited to:
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(a) mooring and unmooring;
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(b) launching and recovery of survival craft;
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(c) evacuation from all areas of the vessel;
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(d) donning of lifejackets; and
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(e) use and handling of firefighting equipment.
23A.12 Onboard Procedures
(1) Simple procedures shall be developed for the operation of the vessel. These shall
include, but not be limited to:
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(a) testing of equipment, including steering gear, prior to commencing a
passage;
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(b) navigation and handling of the vessel;
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(c) maintenance routines;
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(d) bunkering operations;
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(e) watertight/weathertight integrity;
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(f) stability of the vessel;
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(g) conduct of passengers and crew while onboard;
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(h) emergency towing (may be in a separate document);
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(i) safe use and qualification of users for personal watercraft.
23A.13 Preparation for Emergencies
(1) The potential emergencies likely to be encountered by the vessel shall be
considered. Exercises shall then be carried out in the handling of these emergencies
and evacuation from the vessel.
(2) Where possible, all personnel shall be involved in these exercises, both ashore
and afloat.
(3) The roles and responsibilities of all personnel in an emergency situation shall
be defined.
(4) The exercises shall be recorded. The names of those who participated shall also
be recorded.
23A.14 Reporting of Accidents
(1) Vessels operating under this Code shall report any accidents to the
Administration and the company shall therefore have a procedure in place.
Additionally, all accidents and near accidents shall be recorded and reported to the
Company/Owner, who shall implement corrective action, with the aim of improving
safety.
23A.15 Maintenance of the Vessel and Equipment
(1) Maintenance of the vessel and equipment is an essential ingredient of safety
management. The equipment shall be checked and tested daily when in use, in addition
to the tests referred to in the Annex I.
(2) There shall be procedures for a more detailed inspection and maintenance
programme of the vessel and equipment.
(3) The frequency of the inspections shall be determined by the Company/Owner, but
every event shall be recorded.
(4) Where vessels comply with Section 14A.2(4)(i) the re-application process for the
fire protection treatment shall be documented including the frequency and any
limitations set by the service supplier.
(5) A checklist could be employed as an aide memoir for the inspection of equipment.
23A.16 Review
(1) Every Company/Owner shall undertake a review of the safety management system of
all vessels at least once in every three years.