ASM – QUESTIONS

ISM

1) State the objectives of ISM code and enumerate the fundamental requirements of
SMS.
(15 marks)

2) Discuss how ISM code has ensured the roles and responsibility of the company/
owner in achieving the Safety management objectives. State the various objectives
in the ISM code and measures you will take as a Master in achieving them.

3) What do you understand by the following terms as per ISM Code.

i) “Critical ship board Operation” List 5 of them, which comes under this category.
ii) “Critical equipment”. List 5 equipment which comes under this category and
procedures for maintaining the same. (15 Marks)

4) What are the objectives of ISM Code? How detention of a vessel by port state
control authority indicates failure of the Safety Management System on board?

5) Explain in detail 2013 amendments to ISM code which came in force on 01st January
2015. What is the likely impact of these amendments onboard and in company’s
office?

6) Discuss the various measures as Master in Motivating and reviewing the System in
implementing Safety Environment Policy onboard your Ship.

7) Describe how ISM code has ensured the “Role and Responsibility of Company” in
achieving Safety Management Objectives. State the various objectives in the Code
and measures you will take as a Master in achieving them.

8) Discuss how as a Master you would comply with the following ISM code clauses
which stress the concept of “Learning from past mistakes”.
i) Clause 9 on “Accidents, hazards of occurrences reporting”.
ii) Clause 12 on “Internal Audits”
iii) Clause 1.2 on “contingency seek to improve safety management skills of shore
and ship’s personnel”.

9) Under ISM code, what are the new elements introduced as an amendment to SOLAS
Chapter XI and how does it affect the certification process?

10) What are the new ISM Code amendments to be complied with effect from 01st Jan
2015. Explain with reference to applicable IMO resolutions.
11) Supervising the functioning of the Safety Management System (SMS) is a paramount
part of ISM Code, which is executed by the Master on board. In this regard explain
the following:
i) The implementation of the functional requirements and
ii) Why has the power been given to the Master to override the system, if required,
to take the necessary action in any given situation?

12) By stating the objectives of ISM Code, discuss how the application of ISM Code
ensures a change of perspective on implementation of rules and regulations? By
describing the Master’s responsibilities, how will you, as a Master, ensure the
successful implementation of ISM Code on board to ensure that implementation is
more than just holding certificates?

13) ISM Code assists the Master and another key shipboard personnel’s in making timely
and right decisions to prevent casualties and pollution incidents. In the light off this,
state the implications of ISM elements during the following situations on board while
you are in command of fully laden Indian Tankers (Cargo crude oil) registered under
M.S. Act.
i) Main Engine breakdown off offshore Oil Development Areas.
ii) Arabian Sea, iii) Grounding off Indian Port iv) Collision at Sea.

14) Enumerate procedures you would adopt as Master of Indian flag oil tanker operating
in foreign waters to implement / enforce following policies developed by your
company:
i) SEP Policy ii) D & A policy iii) Navigation policy

15) Describe how ISM Code has ensured the “Role and Responsibility of Company /
Owner” in achieving safety management objectives? State the various objectives in
the ISM Code and measures you would take as Master in achieving them.

16) Describe the key elements of safety management system manuals required to be
carried on board Indian registered bulk carrier?

17) With respect to ISM Code, Explain the following Terms: (any three)
i) DPA ii) SMC iii) DOC iv) Objective Evidence v) Major NC
18) In order to comply with the ISM Code, as a Master, how will you ensure the working
of Safety Management system (SMS)? Give your answer by describing the elements
the SMS must consist off.

19) Explain following:

a) Master’s overriding authority as per ISM Code.
ISPS
1) How will you prepare a ship security plan as per ISPS code.

2) Explain: i) Piracy ii) Armed Robbery and iii) Terrorism

3) State the measures prescribed by Indian Maritime Administration in curbing &

preventing incidents of piracy in Gulf of Aden / Somalia.

4) Discuss criteria for engaging a Private Maritime Security Company? What are the
reporting and declaration requirements on ‘Pre-Arrival Notification for Security’ for
entering Indian Ports?

5) What are the procedures recommended by Government of India for Precautions to

be taken against piracy.

6) List the functional requirements embodied in the ISPS Code that will assist in
achieving the objectives of the code.

BMP

1) Define Piracy? Discuss briefly the Best Management Practices (BMP4) recommended
for protection against Somalia based Piracy developed by International Chamber of
Shipping (ICS) along with other shipping industry organizations.

2) Discuss briefly the Best Management Plan (BMP) recommended for protection
against Somalia based privacy developed by International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
along with other shipping industry organizations.

3) How does the Best Management Practice (BMP) help a master to deter and prevent
piracy/hijacking incidents

4) Enumerate the best practices recommended for transiting piracy high risk area as per
BMP4.

5) Discuss briefly the BMP recommended for protection against Somalia based piracy
developed by ICS along with other shipping industry organisations.
RA
1) Carry out risk assessment for a heavily listed bulk carrier, carrying grain to be brought
to a place of refuge. Make applicable assumptions as required.

2) Prepare a detailed risk assessment for ballast tank inspection with risk matrix,
residual risk, hazard identification and control measures.

FSA

Answers

Critical shipboard operations- where an error will immediately cause an accident or a

situation that could threaten personnel, environment or vessel. e.g. navigation in confined
waters, operation in heavy weather, bunker or oil transfers, cargo operations on tankers,
mooring, etc.

Critical Equipment Examples (Actual will be based on your risk assessment) ➢ Main
propulsion ➢ Generator ➢ Steering ➢ Navigation equipment ➢ Fire fighting ➢ PPE ➢ Etc

Under key shipboard operations, critical processes such as cargo handling, navigation,
machinery handling etc. are taken into consideration for evaluation. Along with that, critical
spaces such as stores, bridges, machinery spaces, and steering control system are also taken
into consideration
Key Shipboard operations: (IACS Recommendation No. 41 – Guidance for Auditors to the
ISM Code)

(1) All those operations for which mandatory rules and regulations prescribe performance
requirements or specific requirements for plans, procedures, instructions, records and
checklists;
(2) those operations connected to the particular ship’s type and which may affect safety and
pollution prevention, to the extent established by the Company;
(3) those operations for which safe practices in ship operations and a safe working
environment have been recommended by the IMO, Administrations, classification societies
and other industry bodies; and
(4) those operations which the Company considers may create hazardous situations if not
controlled by plans and instructions.

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Defining Piracy

Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
determines that Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for
private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and
directed:

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on
board such ship or aircraft;
(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any
State;

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with
knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a)
or (b).

Defining Armed Robbery against ships

Resolution A.1025(26) (Annex, paragraph 2.2) on IMO's Code of Practice for the Investigation
of the Crimes of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, determines that armed robbery
against ships consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal act of violence or detention or any act of depredation, or threat thereof,
other than an act of piracy, committed for private ends and directed against a ship or against
persons or property on board such a ship, within a State's internal waters, archipelagic
waters and territorial sea;

(b) any act of inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described above."

The United Nations General Assembly condemned terrorist acts by using the following
political description of terrorism in December 1994 (GA Res. 49/60):[11]

Criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a
group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance
unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial,
ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them.

OCIMF – Guidance on employment of PMSC