SOLAS Chapter IX

SOLAS Chapter IX makes the International Safety Management Code mandatory for all ships of 500 GT or more on international voyages, and for all passenger ships. It requires the shipping company to implement a Safety Management System and obtain a Document of Compliance, and it requires each ship to hold a Safety Management Certificate issued by the flag state after auditing the SMS. Both the DOC and SMC must be carried on board. For a master, Chapter IX defines the accountability framework. The master has overriding authority on matters of safety and must be given the resources and shore support necessary to fulfil that responsibility. The SMS must include clear procedures for the master to report non-conformities and hazardous situations to the company, and the company must respond and take corrective action. Port state control inspectors verify that both the DOC and SMC are current, and may conduct a more detailed SMS audit if there are indicators of a poorly implemented system — such as incomplete drill records, unresolved non-conformities, or crew who are unfamiliar with emergency procedures. A gap between the documented procedures and actual shipboard practice is the most common finding in ISM audits. Renewal audits for the DOC and SMC must be conducted within the prescribed intervals, and intermediate verifications are required.