Since the 1980s IMO has increasingly
addressed the people involved in shipping in its work. In 1989, IMO adopted
resolution A.647(16) on Guidelines on management for the safe operation of
ships and for pollution prevention - the forerunner of what became the
International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which was made mandatory through
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS).
The ISM Code is intended to improve
the safety of international shipping and to reduce pollution from ships by
impacting on the way ships are managed and operated by the shipping companies.
The ISM Code establishes an international standard for the safe management and
operation of ships and for the implementation of a safety management system
(SMS).
Effective implementation of the ISM
Code should lead to a move away from a culture of "unthinking"
compliance with external rules towards a culture of "thinking"
self-regulation of safety - the development of a “safety culture”, with every
individual - from the top to the bottom - feeling responsible for actions taken
to improve safety and performance. Application of the ISM Code should support
and encourage the development of a safety culture in shipping.
In 1995, IMO adopted the Guidelines
on implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by
Administrations by resolution A.788(19). Revised guidelines were adopted
by resolution A.913(22) in 2001, and subsequently by resolution A.1022(26) in
2009, which were replaced by a further revision adopted by resolution
A.1071(28) in 2013. These revised guidelines have been revoked by resolution
A.1118(30) with effect from 6 December 2017.
The safety and security of life at
sea for fishing vessel personnel are also a matter of concern of IMO, which
recognises the need for a response to the safety crisis of the fishing industry
and has a number of instruments addressing the issue. One of those instruments
is the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995, which was adopted by
IMO in 1995, and was intended to bring considerable benefits and advantages to
the fishing industry and enhancing the standard of safety in the fishing vessel
fleets.
The 1995 STCW-F Convention apply to
crews of sea going fishing vessels, generally of 24 meters in length and above
and/or powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more.
The Convention is the first attempt to make standards of safety for crews of
fishing vessels mandatory internationally and entered into force on 29
September 2012.
The 1995 STCW-F Convention is
currently being comprehensively reviewed by the Sub-Committee on Human Element,
Training and Watchkeeping in order to align the standards of the Convention
with the current state of the fishing industry, and to make available an
effective instrument, which will contribute to addressing the significant
challenges of this sector.
( To be continued)