Captains divided over the benefits of ISM

The increase in rules and regulations, minimum training requirements and training in general has seen crew at all levels become better informed and more aware of their rights and obligations, forcing crew to operate in a safer manner. The Crew Report recently contacted a number of captains to find out which rules and regulations have made the most impact on the way they run their yacht. The resounding answer was the ISM (International Safety Management) Code but responses showed the divided attitudes that captains have towards it.

“The purpose of this Code is to provide an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention,” says the International Maritime Organization, but Captain Simon Johnson told The Crew Report that the ISM has not seen him change his habits or procedures. “Before ISM was implemented on yachts,” he explains, “I aspired to similar checklists as used in my pilot-training. I absorbed this method in my very early yachting career. Pre-flight checks highlighted areas of maintenance or deficiencies. Our pre-departure checks now always ensure that we go to sea on a yacht that we can depend on.”

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“ISM has made good common sense into a big pile of paperwork." - Captain Stephen Edwards

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“The lessons from flying a plane are no different to the ISM method used on yachts,” Captain Johnson continues. “It also means that there is a way of bringing the yacht home should it be the captain who fell overboard, and in leaving a paper trail should anyone wish to be litigious. A great improvement to our industry I would say and to be embraced without restraint.”

Captain Mac Auwers agrees that ISM has had a very positive influence on creating a far more safety conscious yachting environment. “It must be better than the Wild West years when all we had was our Yachtmaster and a lot of bravado,” he says. “I think ISM management is a great asset as this is an area where it helps if someone is breathing down your neck saying you need to do these drills and so on. Port state control is becoming more stringent so any support to help avoid detention must be good."



But not everyone shares the same sentiment and some captains find that ISM is an unnecessary hassle. Captain David Slee believes: “ISM has been one of the most invasive changes, particularly with regard to paperwork. Although they have both brought improvements in our industry, they take crew away from service and money away from owners.” Captain Stephen Edwards echoes this sentiment, declaring: “ISM has made good common sense into a big pile of paperwork”.

While ISM has created a significant increase in admin for captains, boats are operating much more safely as a result, ensuring records are made about what crew are doing and making them accountable for their actions. There will always be problems with fulfilling the requirements in terms of time and schedule but the positives far outweigh these drawbacks. As Captain Mike Hitch asks, “Why should we complain about the testing of safety equipment each week when it could end up being the difference between saving lives or losing ships?”

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