Convention and Code requirements:
In order to strengthen the safety and
pollution prevention management of ships on international voyages, Chapter IX
of the SOLAS Convention requires that applicable ships and their management
companies should comply with the requirements of the International Safety
Management Code (ISM Code). Companies to which the ISM Code applies should
obtain a Document of Compliance issued by the competent authority or its
authorized accreditation organization after audit, and ships to which the ISM
Code applies should obtain a Safety Management Certificate issued by the
competent authority after audit. For detailed requirements, please refer to CCS
Rules for Certification of Ship Safety Management System.
Applicable ships:
Ships applicable to the Code include passenger
ships (including high-speed passenger ships), and oil tankers, chemical
tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers, high-speed cargo ships and other cargo
ships of 500 gross tonnage and above, and mobile offshore drilling units. Those
not applicable to the Code are the ships operated by the government for
non-commercial purposes.
Applicable companies:
Companies applicable to the Code refer
to the owner of the ship or any other organization or individual, such as a
manager or a bareboat charterer, who has accepted the responsibility for the
operation of the ship from the owner and agreed to assume all the obligations
and responsibilities stipulated in the International Safety Management Code.
Certificates:
Interim SMC: When a new ship is
delivered, the company assumes the responsibility for the operation of a new
ship, or changes the flag, a temporary ship audit should be conducted. After
the ship passes the audit, an interim SMC with a validity period no more than 6
months will be issued.
SMC: If the ship meets the requirements
of the ISM Code through initial audit after the safety and pollution prevention
management system has been implemented on board for 3 months, an SMC with a
validity period no more than 5 years will be issued. An interim audit should be
conducted during the period from the second anniversary date of the SMC to the
third anniversary date, and a recertification audit conducted before the
expiration of the SMC.
Interim DOC: If the company is newly
established or adds new ship types in its existing “Document of Compliance”, a temporary
company audit should be conducted. After the company passes the audit, an
interim DOC with a validity period no more than 1 year will be issued.
DOC: If the company meets the
requirements of the ISM Code through the initial company audit, provided that
the company has fully implemented the safety management system and at least one
of each ship type it manages has been operating the safety and pollution
prevention management system for at least 3 months, a DOC with a validity
period no more than 5 years will be issued to the company. An annual audit should
be conducted within 3 months before and after the anniversary date of the DOC,
and a recertification audit conducted before the expiration of the DOC.
CCS has always kept pace with the international
counterparts in ship audit and certification business, obtaining authorization
from the administrations of more and more countries or regions to carry out
statutory audits and issue ISM certificates on their behalf. CCS owns a team of
highly educated, experienced full-time auditors. CCS has set up
branches/offices at major ports along China’s coast and the Yangtze River and
in countries/regions in Asia, Europe, America, the Middle East and Australia
etc., shaping up a global service network, providing our customers with
convenient, timely and efficient ISM audit services.
To apply for ship audit services, customers
only need to submit a ship audit application form to the nearest CCS office at
home and abroad. To apply for a company DOC audit, please submit the
application form and related materials to the CCS branch where the company
locates.
For more details, please contact us:
Tel.: 0086-10-58112443
E-mail: cdwork@ccs.org.cn
More convenient services:
EContact CCS offices/branches
