Question 1

Your vessel is laid up, mid-survey, with the SMS not yet fully implemented and no passengers aboard. A task requires opening a hatch in a normally-clear walkway. How should the vessel's non-operational status affect your hazard controls?

Accepted Answer

It shouldn't lower the bar for physical hazard controls at all — a fall risk exists regardless of the vessel's certification or operational status The MSIU found that Your Magic's non-operational setting, absence of passengers, and presence of experienced senior officers likely contributed to the task being framed as routine — with less importance attached to safeguards. The report was explicit: physical hazards are not diminished by a vessel's regulatory or certification status. The same fall risk exists whether or not the SMS is finished or passengers are aboard.

Question 2

Under the ISM Code and as reinforced in Gard's guidance to Members, the Master's overriding authority to make decisions for the safety of the ship and protection of the environment can be overruled by a commercial instruction from the company, such as a charterer's order to sail on schedule.

Accepted Answer

False False. Gard's guidance to Members consistently stresses that the ISM Code (element 5) gives the Master overriding authority and responsibility for safety and pollution prevention decisions — and that companies must ensure this authority is not undermined by commercial pressure. A charterer's or owner's commercial instruction never overrides the Master's safety judgement; Masters who feel pressured are advised to record their decision and reasoning and report it to the company and, where relevant, to their P&I correspondent.

Question 3

A crew member identifies that a piece of safety equipment does not match what is listed on the safety equipment plan. What is the correct way to handle this under the SMS?

Accepted Answer

Raise it as a non-conformity/observation through the SMS reporting process so it is recorded, investigated, corrected, and — if it reflects a wider issue — used to improve procedures or the safety equipment plan itself The ISM Code requires a system for reporting non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences so they can be analysed and corrective/preventive action taken — quietly fixing an issue without recording it loses this opportunity for systemic improvement.