The International Safety Management (ISM) Code is the international standard for safe management and operation of ships and pollution prevention.
Purpose
ISM certification is mandatory for passenger ships and all ships over 500 GT in international trade and companies operating such vessels.
Benefits
Our professional and experienced auditors are situated close to your premises and are available in all ports worldwide. We focus on safety and practical compliance. Call your nearest DNV office and discover the added value that DNV’s ISM certification will provide to your operations.
In the process of ISM certification, audits that are combined with the ship’s International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) certification may be carried out in order to save time and money.
Features
DNV provides Document of Compliance (DOC) certification for companies and Safety Management Certificates (SMC) for ships.
DNV is authorised by all major Flag States to carry out audits and issue Documents of Compliance (DOC) and Safety Management Certificates (SMC).
ISM certification may be combined with other management system certification such as quality (ISO 9000), environment (ISO 14000) and ISPS certification.
Process
A Document of Compliance (DOC) is issued to the ISM-responsible company and is valid for 5 years. Annual audits are carried out to verify continued compliance.
The Safety Management Certificate (SMC) is issued to ships for 5 years upon successful completion of an initial or renewal audit. Intermediate audits are carried out between the 2nd and 3rd anniversary of the certificate. Some DNV stations will issue the full-term certificates.
Interim certificates may be issued for companies (12-month validity) and for ships (6-month validity) covering the system implementation period.
See also process flowchart.
Our experience
Even before the ISM Code was formally established, DNV developed its own scheme for certification of Safety Management Systems for ships and shipping companies.
DNV is authorised as a Recognised Organisation (RO) by all major Flag State Authorities and is now RO for more than 3750 ships and 500 shipping companies.