[ LONDON CLUB warning on ISM certification ]

The London P&I Club has warned that ISM certification, if not properly
implemented and monitored, could be little more than a worthless pape
r exercises.
In the latest issue of its StopLoss Bulletin, the Club notes that ther
e have been reported incidents of vessels―which have not entered with
the London Club and with ISM code certificates―detained in ports as
a result of serious safety deficiencies.
In one case, these deficiencies led to the extent that port state cont
rol inspectors detected the ship’s condition had been against the rec
ord in the paperwork of the safety management system (SMS). The ship b
ore little or no resemblance to the reported condition. The auditing b
ody for the ISM code and class was called in, and not only did the phy
sical defects have to be rectified, but also the non-conformities with
the SMS.
The London Club says that the continuing incidents of ships failing to
meet ISM code requirements, despite retaining the necessary certifica
tion, underline the need for auditing bodies to look behind the veneer
of respectability which mere paperwork can lend to shipowners, operat
ors and their vessels.
The club says its committee would certainly take a very critical view
of any claims arising from incidents which properly observed ISM code
procedures should preclude.