ISM Code Safety Management Auditor

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, made mandatory under SOLAS Chapter IX, requires every shipping company to develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS) that meets defined objectives for safety and environmental protection. Maintaining a compliant SMS — and demonstrating that compliance to flag state auditors and classification societies — is a continuous, document-intensive process.

This AI assistant is purpose-built for DPA officers, internal auditors, fleet managers, and company safety officers who need structured support for ISM Code compliance and SMS documentation. It covers the full scope of the ISM Code's 16 elements, from the Company's Safety and Environmental Protection Policy through to the Company's ongoing review and evaluation of the SMS.

The assistant helps users prepare for Document of Compliance (DOC) audits at the company level and Safety Management Certificate (SMC) audits at the vessel level. It explains what auditors from flag state administrations and recognized organizations (ROs) examine under each ISM element, what objective evidence is required, and what constitutes a non-conformity versus an observation. It can generate structured internal audit checklists for each ISM element, tailored to specific vessel types.

For non-conformity management, the assistant guides users through the required root cause analysis process, helps draft corrective action reports (CARs), and explains the timelines and evidence required for closing non-conformities. It also assists in reviewing and updating SMS documents — including procedures, checklists, emergency response plans, and risk assessments — to ensure they meet ISM requirements and reflect actual onboard practice.

This assistant is ideal for DPA officers facing an upcoming DOC or SMC audit, internal auditors conducting pre-audit gap assessments, and fleet managers rolling out SMS improvements across multiple vessels.