Shipboard Safety Officer

This course is an excellent add on to the ISPS Ship Security Officer #171 Course or the ISM DPA #172 Course. When you register for 2 of these courses at the same time you will get a $100. discount.

This course follows IMO Model Course 3.11 and may satisfy the requirement for ISM Shipboard Safety Officer training for vessels over 500grt. Check with your flag state.

Course Syllabus:

The Role of the Ship Safety Officer

ISM Code & Safety Culture

ILO

ISO

Health, Safety & Environmental Policy

The Employer

Competent Person

Shipboard Safety Organization

Communication

Risk Assessment

Incident Investigation & Prevention

Report Writing

Known as the International Safety Management Code, the ISM Code is one of the required regulations in the maritime industry. Since 1994, when the ISM Code was formally adopted and integrated into SOLAS, it has been a vital component of the Safety of Life at Sea. (Also see ISM Course #172) ISM code works with the motive of satisfying three important goals: • Safety of people on board • Safety of vessel and cargo • Safety of marine environment For implementing ISM code on ships, all the three – the shipping/management company, the governing authority, and the ship’s crew together play an important role. Every seafarer should know the important aspects of the ISM code in order to create a safe working environment while at sea. Under the International Safety Management (ISM) code, every vessel operating under ISM (mandatory over 500 GT), must appoint a ship safety officer (SSO - NOT the ship security officer) who has the knowledge, experience, and skills to look over the important safety issues related to ship and its crew’s health. According to the ISM code a ship safety officer should have minimum of two years of consecutive sea service. (NOTE: In case of tanker ships the safety officer should have six months of experience on tanker ships in addition to two years of consecutive sea service.) The appointed ship service officer should have the necessary qualities to properly take the responsibilities imposed under the relevant provision of the ISM regulation. He/she should also help in proper implementation of the ISM code on the ship. Duties of ship safety officer The safety officer of the ship is entitled to look over all the duties related to the vessels safety. Some of the important duties include: • Look into all the potential hazards to the health and safety of the vessel and its crew • Ensure that the crew maintains high standard of safety consciousness and is familiar with all of the important aspects of the ISM code related to safety • Ensures that the provisions of the code of safe working practices and safety instructions, rules and guidance for the ship’s safety and health are complied with. • Ensure that safety inspection of the vessel is carried out at least every three months or more frequently if required • Help ship safety committee to take substantial steps for enhancing the safety of the ship • To look into crew complaints related to health and safety • Make recommendations to the master to remove a potential hazard which might lead to an accident or harm to the crew • Help in making/maintaining an efficient safety management system (SMS) • Provide information to the ship’s master regarding deficiencies related to ship’s health, safety, and security • Properly investigate any accident involving death of a crew and major or minor accident • Inform the master when someone from the crew fails to work according to the regulations mention in the ISM code • Recommend important aspects related to safety in ship’s maintenance plan • Maintain a record of all the accidents taking place on the ship, including death, major or minor injury, and near death experiences. Also, make this information available to the ship’s master, safety representative, or any official of the company • Stop any vessel operation, which might cause damage to the vessel or harm to any of the crew and inform the Master so the necessary steps are taken. The Ship safety officer is not required to perform any of the above mentioned duties when an emergency action or response is being taken to safe guard life or safety of a ship. Moreover, he/she is also not in charge of any kind of medical treatment or first aid in case of an emergency.