The Republic of Marshal Islands has issued a Marine Notice in order to provide guidance on the requirements on carriage of publications on board ships, according to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and Recognized Organizations (ROs), the ISM Code certification of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The Notice applies to all commercial vessels and yachts in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry.
Requirements
- IMO instruments such as the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code , International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (MARPOL), International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL), Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREG), and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) deal with many operational aspects, inter alia, navigational responsibilities, safety related training/drills on board, safe cargo handling, oil spill prevention, collision avoidance activities and watchkeeping standards. Therefore, these publications, although not expressly required by IMO instruments, should be carried on board in order to improve the crew’s knowledge and to enhance the implementation of IMO instruments. No deficiency should be filed by PSCOs against ships not carrying such publications on board. However, a nonconformity should be filed by ISM auditors against ships not carrying such publications in accordance with National requirements and the ship’s Safety Management System (SMS).
- The publications may be carried in the form of electronic media,such as CD-ROM, in lieu of hard copies. Publications which may be carried in electronic form are those issued by the IMO or the RMI Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) or a body authorized by the Administrator to ensure correctness of their contents and to safeguard against illegal copying. Electronic media may contain one (1) publication or as many publications as possible. In any case, the electronic media should be treated in accordance with the document control procedures in the ships’ Safety Management System (SMS) including procedures for timely updating of the publications.
Further information may be found by reading the Marine Notice below
Source: RMI