Ian Sutton’s Post

This is juicy! This is a from a Captain (thank you Kennebec_Captain) in a forum on gCaptain around implementing SMS ... "My introduction to a SMS (Safety Management System) was rather inauspicious. One day the captain and the chief just starting talking about something that was coming. it was going to be bad and it was going to involve a lot of pencil whipping. Seems like every coffee break must have heard the term ‘pencil whip’ a couple dozen times. When the manuals did show up I couldn’t make head or tails of them but the captain did start putting out numerous redundant forms. It was bad, sort of a self-filling prophecy. When the auditors started showing up later however they explained the way we were implementing SMS was stupid (not in so many words) , as if it wasn’t obvious. Anyway, over time the system evolved, we started to understand it better and things began to improve.” I have been implementing Safety Management Systems for over 15 years - from agriculture to aviation to marine. I know FEEL daunting BUT I also know how it can be easy and impactful and set a company up for success and growth. Take a look at this conversation and then call me to talk about Vessel Vanguard and our Safety Management System. #sms #boatsafety #safetymanagement #yachtsafety #marinesafety

Effective Safety Management Systems Onboard Vessels in Accordance with the ISM Code 🌍⚓ The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), sets global standards for the safe management of ships and the prevention of pollution. A key requirement of the ISM Code is the implementation of an effective Safety Management System (SMS) onboard vessels. An SMS ensures: 🚢 Ships are operated safely. ⚠️ Risks are minimized. 🆘 Emergencies are managed efficiently. Key elements include: 📋 Clear procedures for safe operations. 🔍 Regular audits. 👷♂️ Crew training. 🔄 Continuous improvement. Compliance with the ISM Code not only reduces accidents but also enhances operational efficiency. At SolarisTech, we can help your company develop and implement an SMS tailored to meet ISM Code requirements, improving onboard safety and eliminate risks for your fleet.

Oceanaut transforms maritime safety with a seamless, all-in-one Safety Management System (SMS). By centralizing critical safety documents, crews always have the latest procedures and policies at their fingertips. Logging incidents and near-misses becomes effortless, enabling thorough analysis and proactive corrective actions that help prevent future risks. Regular reminders also ensure inspections are never missed, reducing the chances of unexpected failures. At the same time, crew training and competency tracking ensure your team is always up to date on essential safety practices, ready to handle any situation with confidence. Oceanaut’s interconnected modules don’t just ensure compliance—they transform maritime operations into an organised and secure system. With every detail accounted for, you can focus on what truly matters: smooth sailing and protecting lives. 📍 Learn more at www.albatrossmarine.ca

The International Safety Management Code (ISM) is ubiquitous in Subchapter M. It forms the backbone of the subchapter itself, and many Towing Safety Management Safety Systems (TSMSs) are either based on ISM or are influenced in varying degrees by the Code. Any deeper understanding of ISM equals a deeper understanding of the building blocks and broad strokes of TSMSs, how they are created, and how to audit them. When I first encountered ISM during an auditing course two years ago, it took some effort to understand it. While the IMO did a fantastic job writing this Code, understanding how it fits into the bigger picture was challenging. Kerrie Forster of KF Maritime has done a sublime job of presenting the process of creating ISM-compliant safety management systems and how they fit into the big picture. My questions have been answered in Mr. Forster's newly released book, ISM Basics: The practical guide to writing an ISM compliant Safety Management System. This volume contains practical knowledge distilled into a crystal-clear synthesis of how to create an ISM-compliant SMS and will help anyone get a better understanding of the bigger ISM picture. This slim, tight, and easily readable volume would have been a huge asset to me when I was going through my ISM lead auditor course. Mr. Forster's book can be purchased here: https://lnkd.in/etAH96i9

'A crystal-clear synthesis of how to create an ISM-compliant SMS'. Please see below for the full (and very positive!) review of 'ISM Basics: The practical guide to writing an ISM compliant Safety Management System' by Kerrie Forster.

New Rulemaking by FAA requires you have an approved Safety Management System (SMS). Be prepared with a first-to-market course, "Safety Management Systems for Design, Manufacturing and Maintenance Providers in Aviation", by SAE International and hosted by Ohio Aerospace Institute , May 15-16 in Cleveland, Ohio. A Safety Management System (SMS) is a decision-making system based on proactively identifying, assessing, and controlling hazards and safety risks in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance environments. Use of an SMS is already required in Europe and will soon be a required part of aviation design, manufacturing, and maintenance by the FAA. This two-day course will introduce the learner to the Four Pillars of Safety: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion with hands-on instruction using artifacts and rubrics to practice designing a safety management system, as well as guidance on the application of SMS to comply with multiple certificating authorities. To learn more and register, visit: https://ow.ly/nz0050Rcljv

How much Compliance co$t? Right$hip RI$K 3.1 Compliance with RightShip’s updated RISQ 3.1 standards presents not just a regulatory requirement but a comprehensive investment in safety, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. But for operators of Ultra Max bulk carriers, meeting these standards comes with a price tag often underestimated by standard budgets. Based on a hard estimation, annual costs might reach $158,500 to $199,000; however, in reality, actual expenditures could rise significantly. Breaking Down the Costs 1. Onboard Attendance and Supervision Transitioning to RISQ 3.1 requires extensive on-site time from marine superintendents, captains, or naval architects to oversee changes, audits, and repairs. With daily rates around $150, an estimated 90 to 120 days of attendance alone can cost $13,500 to $18,000. Yet, many operations may find that these figures climb with the scope and intricacies of each vessel. 2. Upgrading the Safety Management System (SMS) Aligning a bulk carrier’s SMS with RISQ 3.1 goes beyond simple tweaks. Documentation revisions, new ECDIS procedures, and enhanced mooring protocols require an overhaul estimated at $20,000 to $30,000. Moreover, continuous audits from marine consultants can add $25,000 to $30,000. These are foundational investments, with real-world adjustments potentially raising costs by 10-15%. 3. Crew Training and Familiarization Comprehensive training on new safety protocols and mental health policies is essential. Developing tailored programs, coupled with annual, unannounced drug testing, may cost $27,000 to $35,000. As crew rotations and specific vessel needs evolve, these costs tend to exceed initial forecasts. 4. Equipment and Maintenance Enhancements Quarterly ultrasonic tests to ensure hatch cover integrity and the implementation of a Planned Maintenance System (PMS) represent some of the largest expenditures. With ultrasonic tests at $4,000 per session and PMS setups at $30,000 to $40,000 annually, these enhancements are vital but costly. Realistically, unplanned repairs or additional testing can inflate these budgets further. 5. RightShip Inspection Preparation Preparing for inspection involves pre-inspection audits and review sessions costing around $15,000 to $20,000. Add inspection fees of $7,000 to $10,000, and total preparation expenses quickly add up. Yet, as compliance demands grow, these costs are likely conservative. The Reality Behind the Numbers While the $158,500 to $199,000 estimate serves as a hard baseline, real-world figures are often higher. Factors such as vessel condition, availability of specialized personnel, and the complexities of upgrading older systems contribute to costs well beyond initial projections. The journey to RightShip compliance is a significant financial commitment but essential to ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable operations in today’s maritime industry.

SAFETY FIRST - When attending a vessel at anchor I would like to share our most serious concern and request opinions, proposals and thoughts in general from all colleagues who think they can contribute to this issue. ARGO NAVIS and our affiliated companies, SEA CROSS and VELA ELECTRIC, have more than twenty engineers, daily on site, visiting ships in shipyards and in operation. The attendances are taking place for inspection services, 3D scanning of various areas of the ships, including tanks, installation works, commissioning and after sales services. As you can imagine, quite often our colleagues are obliged to board the vessels while at anchor. And all these years that these attendances are taking place and we have faced too many issues, including hazardous occurrences, when our people have boarded the ships with swell, waves, at night, OPL, with very long rope ladders, transferred with poor launch boats, and many other harsh and risky conditions. We have carried out internal risk assessments, we have established procedures to balance the identified risks, we have established safety briefings before departure of the attending engineers, and many others. We have denied boarding during nighttime or disembarkation with bad weather. You can imagine the turbulence and clients’ reactions... Nevertheless, we keep facing serious incidents and there are no standard conditions we should seek, always feeling stressed and very worried for our colleagues when they need to attend vessels at anchor! We are continuously looking for measures to apply, and alliances to share thoughts and ideas on the way to mitigate the hazards and ensure minimizing, hopefully eliminating the related risks. Any contribution would be welcomed!

Learn shipyard safety management! This course covers strategies, standards, and best practices to prevent accidents and ensure a safe work environment. https://lnkd.in/gx7TyDpv

In safety, real-world testing is essential. In this photo, I’m putting our emergency procedures to the test by simulating an escape through the roof of one of our excavators. This hands-on validation allows us to assess if our protocols are as accessible and effective as they need to be in an actual emergency. Effective safety management goes beyond writing procedures—it’s about ensuring that every protocol can be executed smoothly when seconds count. By stepping into these scenarios ourselves, we’re able to refine and strengthen our procedures, providing our teams with the practical, life-saving measures they can rely on in critical moments. Safety isn’t just about planning; it’s about action and continuous improvement.