1 To give guidance to companies operating multi-flagged
fleets and to give supplementary guidelines to Administrations. To
ensure that all Administrations concerned can be satisfied and have
faith that the DOC has been issued fully in accordance with resolution
A.788(19).
2 The Assembly, at its nineteenth session, adopted
resolution A.788(19) - “Guidelines for Administrations on the
implementation of the ISM Code". These guidelines are generally accepted
as being a good basis on which Administrations can build as experience
is gained in implementing the Code. The same resolution requests Administrations
to review the Guidelines in the light of such experience.
3 Experience to date has highlighted that the
Guidelines referred to in paragraph 2 provide no guidance as to how
companies operating multi-flagged fleets are to be treated. The absence
of such guidance is leading to confusion amongst all sectors of the
industry which under certain circumstances may lead to unnecessary
duplication of work if not properly addressed, will diminish the impact
of the ISM Code on the shipping industry.
4 The Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine
Environment Protection Committee, considering the matter at their
sixty-sixth and thirty-eighth sessions respectively, agreed on the
following supplementary guidance to be followed by companies and Administrations,
as appropriate.
Guidance for companies operating multi-flagged fleets
5 To facilitate the auditing and certification
process companies should approach the relevant flag Administrations,
proposing a plan of action and requesting agreement by all parties.
This plan should clearly state which entity (see paragraph 8) is to
conduct which part of the process.
6 The approach by companies should be taken at
least 12 months prior to the mandatory application date for the particular
ship type or types involved.
Supplementary Guidelines to Administrations on auditing
and certification of companies operating multi-flagged fleets
7 Administrations approached by a company operating
a multi-flagged fleet should enter into a positive dialogue with other
involved Administrations in order to facilitate the auditing and certification
process and to avoid unnecessary duplication of work. Relevant agreements
may be reached with other involved Administrations for this purpose.
8 In this respect Administrations should bear
in mind that the provision of SOLAS regulation
IX/4.1 allows for the following entities to issue DOCs:
- the Administration itself;
- a recognized organization by the Administration; or
- at the request of the Administration, by another Contracting Government.
9 The need for establishing a clear link between
the shore-based part of the Safety Management System of the company
and the shipboard parts should be clearly recognized.