It is well known that the ISM Code (International Safety Management Code) will apply to all vessels of 500 gross tonnage and upward, and to the companies which manage such vessels from 1 July 2002. Also the amendments to SOLAS Chapter IX, ISM Code and Guidelines on Implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by Administrations (hereunder referred to as "Guidelines") will enter into force on the same date.

In this regard, we would like to provide a summary of the amendments as follows:

1. Amendments to SOLAS Chapter IX
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter IX were adopted at the MSC (Maritime Safety Committee) 73 as Resolution MSC.99 (73) on 5 December 2000.

(I) Regulation 3.1
The following text is added.
"For the purpose of this regulation, the requirements of the Code shall be treated as mandatory"
(ii) Regulation 6.2
The following text is deleted.
"Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this regulation"
(iii) Regulation 6.3
Paragraph 6.3 is deleted.

2. Amendments to the ISM Code
Amendments to the ISM Code were adopted at the MSC (Maritime Safety Committee) 73 as Resolution MSC.104 (73) on 5 December 2000. The ISM Code as amended consists of Part A, "Implementation" and Part B, "Certification and Verification". Part B includes the existing Guidelines adopted by Resolution A.788 (19) as mandatory requirements, with some additional text.
An outline of the amendments follows:

(I) Part A, Section 1
Definitions stated in the existing Guidelines are included in this section. In addition, definitions of "Anniversary date" and "Convention" are newly specified.

(To be continued)
(ii) Part A, Section 7
The wording "including checklist as appropriate" is added.

(iii) Part B, Section 13
A new section for "Certification and periodical verification" is added. Section 13.10 requires that when the renewal verification is completed within three months before the expiry date of the existing Document of Compliance (DOC) or Safety Management Certificate (SMC), the validity of the new DOC or SMC should be five years from the date of expiry of the existing DOC and SMC. However, on the other hand, Section 13.11 requires that when the renewal verification is completed more than three months before the expiry date of the existing Document of Compliance (DOC) or Safety Management Certificate (SMC), validity of the new DOC or SMC should be five years from the date of completion of the renewal verification.

(iv) Part B, Section 14
A new section for "Interim certification" is added. Section 14.2.3 specifies that an Interim SMC may be issued when a ship changes flag.

(v) Part B, Section 15
A new section for "Verification" is added. Section 15.1 specifies as mandatory that all verification should be carried out in accordance with the Guidelines which are referred to in Resolution A.788 (19) (A.913 (22) is considered as the correct reference).

(vi) Part B, Section 16
A new section "Forms of certificates" is added. A Form of Extension of validity is added on the reverse side of Interim SMC.

3. Amendments to Guidelines
Amendments to the Guidelines have been adopted as Resolution A.913 (22). The "Definition", "Issuance and validity of DOC and SMC", and "Forms of DOC and SMC" sections are deleted from the guidelines, because such sections have been incorporated into the amended ISM Code.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Safety Management Systems Dep