DSM

Domestic Safety Management (Canada)

The Marine Safety Management Regulations SOR/2024-133 establish the requirement that the ship manager of a Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 vessel develop, implement and maintain a documented safety management system that addresses the shore-based and on-board operations of the vessel. 

Class 1 vessel means a Canadian vessel to which Chapter IX of SOLAS applies. 

Class 2 vessel means a Canadian vessel, other than a Class 1 vessel, that

(a) is 500 gross tonnage or more; or

(b) is certified to carry 50 passengers or more as indicated on the vessel’s safety certificate issued under the Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations and is 24 m in length or more. 

Class 3 vessel means a Canadian vessel, other than a Class 1 or 2 vessel, that is 24 m in length or more. 

Class 4 vessel means a Canadian vessel, other than a Class 1, 2 or 3 vessel, that

(a) is more than 15 gross tonnage; or

(b) is 15 gross tonnage or less and is a passenger-carrying vessel or a towboat.

 Class 5 vessel means a Canadian vessel, other than a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 vessel, of 15 gross tonnage or less. 

Invicta Marine Ltd. specializes in the development and assessment of integrated management systems incorporating the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 together with the ISM Code. We offer a full-service including guidance, gap analysis, documentation development, risk assessments, internal auditor training, crew familiarization, audits and assessments. All of our clients have achieved external certification at the first attempt.

Invicta Marine Ltd. has been conducting audits and assessments since 1994 and carried out numerous Gap Analyses, risk assessments, SMS developments, and other related services for clients. 

Invicta Marine has extensive experience in developing and implementing SMS for Canadian domestic vessels. 

Previous clients have included:

 

Transport Canada,

Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans,

BC Ferries

North Arm Transportation Ltd.,

Washington State Ferries,

SAAM SMIT Towage,

Ledcor Resources & Transportation LP

Federal Fleet Services

Norasia,

Ganymed,

P&O,

Mediterranean Shipping Company,

Rivtow Marine Inc.,

Shearwater Marine Group

V2V Vacations

Osprey Marine Ltd.

Magic Yachts

 

International Safety Management (ISM) Code

 

Marine safety management systems have been around for some time although they didn’t become universally recognized until the adoption of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code which was adopted by the members pf the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1994. The Code provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.

 

On 1 July 1998, the ISM Code became mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and from that date it applied to passenger ships, including passenger high-speed craft; and oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and above. From 1 July 2002, other cargo ships – including general cargo ships and container ships - and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and above were required to comply.

The application of the ISM code to domestic vessels was left to the discretion of the Flag States although there was a recommendation that it be implemented.

The introduction of Safety Management Systems provided the first opportunity to assess the operating company in addition to the ships which have always been subject to inspections. Under the code the company is subject to annual audits to verify that certain management functions are being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the code. If successful, the company is issued a Document of Compliance (for specific ship types), valid for 5 years (subject to satisfactory intermediate audits). Upon successfully attaining a Document of Compliance, each vessel in a fleet will be audited against the requirements of the code and, if successful, the vessel will be issued a Safety Management Certificate, valid for 5 years with one intermediate audit. The DOC is the overarching certificate, without it no vessel may be issued a Safety Management Certificate and, where it has been suspended or withdrawn, any previously issued dependent Safety Management Certificates become invalid. A vessel which has its Safety Management Certificate suspended or withdrawn is not permitted to sail until corrective actions have been implemented and the certificate is re-validated. In addition to the audits carried out by, or on behalf of, flag states, the vessels may be subject to Port State Control inspections focusing on the ISM code among other things.

 

 

Safety Management

 

Safety Management Systems (SMS)

 

Safety Management is a buzzword at the moment with governments and industries around the world mandating and implementing systems to manage and monitor risk.

What exactly is Safety Management and how is it implemented?

 

 

Safety Management is a comprehensive, structured, systematic method of managing safety risks through the development of procedures and safeguards designed to eliminate or mitigate the risks in all areas and from all sources. It is not sufficient to focus safety management simply on the obvious active failures such as errors or violations committed by workers at the coal face. It is also necessary to examine the core underpinnings of an operation and identify potential areas or latent conditions which could lead to a breakdown in the system and thereby cause or contribute to an accident.

A SMS provides a framework for ensuring regulatory requirements are met, industry guidelines are taken into account, and all reasonable steps are taken to prevent or mitigate accidents.

What is an accident?

 

An accident is any occurrence where the outcome is unplanned, unexpected, or unwanted.

The ISM Code

 

The International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention  (ISM Code)

On 1 July 1998, the ISM Code became mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and from that date it applied to passenger ships, including passenger high-speed craft; and oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and above. From 1 July 2002, other cargo ships – including general cargo ships and container ships - and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and above were required to comply.

Functional requirements of a SMS

 

A SMS requires a company to identify all potential risks and put in place procedures or safeguards against these risks. In addition to the obvious risks which are easily identified and assessed companies must have procedures to ensure that employees as properly trained and certificated, equipment is properly maintained, responsibilities clearly identified, etc.