On 1 July 1998, the ISM (International Safety Management ) 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, oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and above.

The cornerstone of good safety management is commitment from the top. In matters of safety and pollution prevention it is the commitment, competence, attitudes and motivation of individuals at all levels that determines the end result.
 
And as always Mahoney is moving with big steps toward improving its operations by getting certified by the end of year 1999.

The full and successful implementation of the ISM Code ensures that we have safety and environmental pollution risks under control.

A proper safety management system as required by the ISM Code and applied by Mahoney ensures the following:

• Helping the prevention of accidents occurring.
• Ensuring procedures are in place for dealing with any shipboard emergency.
• Ensuring the existence of adequate communications between ship and shore side personnel.
• Ensuring that all individuals know their role and responsibility, and are adequately trained and have the appropriate resources to do their job.
• Ensuring that all activities and operations are planned, controlled and verified.

Mahoney made the necessary drills and system to keep these points on top importance during its operations, and make sure to keep responsibilities aboard ship and onshore well trained to guide all employees safely through operations.

Maritime Security is now an integral part of IMO’s responsibilities. A new comprehensive security regime for international shipping is set to inter into force in July 2004. The mandatory security measures, adopted in December 2002, include a number of amendments to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), the most far- reaching of which enshrines the new International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

ISPS Code Contains detailed security-related requirements for governments, port authorities, and shipping companies, also general cargo ships, container ships, and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units of 500 gross tonnage and above had to comply with both: the (International Safety Management ) ISM Code, and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code

The purpose of the ISPS Code is to provide standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling government to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities.

All the requirements for security is now applicable in Mahoney as the company is taking leading steps in training and formulating the security system for the ships.

Under the terms of the ISPS Code, we designated a Company Security Officer who insured that a ship security assessment was carried out and the ship security plan was developed, submitted for approval. CSO continuously follow up implementing and maintaining of security procedures meantime for liaison with port facility security officers, and the ship security officer.

A Ship Security Officer responsible for security aboard ship , including implementation and maintenance of the ship security plan, and for liaison with the company security officer and port facility security officers.