Ship operators will be aware that Phase 1 of the ISM Code has applied since 1 July 1998. In approaching these requirements it should be remembered that the ISM Code represents only one part of a substantial volume of regulations to which ship operators must adhere.

Phase 1 of the Code impacted operators of tankers, bulk carriers, passenger ships or high-speed cargo craft.

In this first phase, the impact for others in the transport chain (eg NVOCs and freight forwarders) depended upon the nature of your trade. Practically speaking, you would only have been affected by Phase I where you contracted to carry cargo on either a “bulk carrier” or a “passenger ship”.