Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Plan
Emergency preparedness under the ISM Code connects scenarios, procedures, drill programmes and the response capability of the ship and shore organization.
Operational Explanation
Section 8 of the ISM Code is not limited to requiring a written plan. The Company must identify potential emergency shipboard situations and establish response procedures (§8.1), establish programmes for drills and exercises (§8.2), and ensure through the SMS that the Company's organization can respond at any time to hazards, accidents and emergencies involving its ships (§8.3).
IMO Guidelines A.1072(28) propose an integrated, modular structure to harmonize the different emergency plans, distinguish initial actions from subsequent response, and clarify duties, resources, communications and ship-shore interfaces. Drills provide useful evidence for evaluating procedures and identifying improvements; one drill, however, does not by itself establish the ship's overall readiness.
Section 8 requires a programme but sets no single frequency for every type of drill. Timing, content and method must be checked against the applicable instruments, including SOLAS, flag requirements, approved plans and the SMS. Equipment availability, maintenance and checks also fall under ISM section 10 and the relevant statutory regime: they should be coordinated with emergency preparedness without confusing an exercise with a technical test.
Regulatory Reference
ISM Code, section 8 — Emergency preparedness. Its three paragraphs cover identification and procedures (§8.1), programmes for drills and exercises (§8.2), and the ability of the Company's organization to respond at any time (§8.3). Resolution A.741(18) is the original adoption text and should be read with the later amendments listed by IMO.
Guidance and control. A.1072(28) provides a recommended structure for integrated emergency plans. For port State control, the current reference is A.1206(34), Procedures for Port State Control, 2025, which revoked A.1185(33).
Official sources: IMO: ISM Code and amendments · A.741(18), original text · A.1072(28), integrated plans · A.1206(34), PSC 2025 · IMO: lifeboat drill safety.
Scope of Application
Section 8 applies to ships subject to the ISM Code. Scenarios, specific plans, drills and their frequencies depend on ship type, operations, persons on board, cargoes, area of operation and applicable statutory instruments. The scenario set should therefore be based on the ship's actual profile and kept consistent with the relevant mandatory plans.
From Plan to Evidence
- Identify and prioritize scenarios. Assess hazards, likelihood and consequences in the ship's context.
- Define response tasks. Separate initial actions from subsequent response and state escalation criteria.
- Assign roles, resources and communications. Connect shipboard personnel, the shore organization and relevant external authorities or services.
- Integrate the plans. Remove overlaps and conflicts while keeping clear which controlled document governs each action.
- Align ship and shore. Keep versions, contacts, responsibilities and communication lines consistent.
- Train and exercise. Schedule drills and exercises at the frequencies and by the methods required by the applicable instruments, with prior safety assessment.
- Review and improve. Record observations, assign actions with owners and due dates, verify effectiveness and update plans and training where necessary.
Connected route. In ISM Easy Maps, the guided Drills and exercises route follows preparation, conduct and review.
Practical Example
During a fire drill, the report from the simulated fire area reaches the bridge late and lacks some of the required information. The debrief separates the cause: procedure wording, familiarization or communication equipment. The corrective action is assigned to an owner, the controlled procedure is revised only if needed, affected personnel are briefed and a later exercise verifies effectiveness. The record retains the scenario, participants, observations, decisions, due dates and final verification.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Generic plan not aligned with the ship's profile | Roles, resources and actions do not match the actual scenario | Connect scenarios, operations, statutory plans and ship-shore interfaces |
| Drill treated as a calendar exercise only | Weaknesses remain unseen or are not closed | Set observable objectives, debrief, actions and effectiveness verification |
| Exercise confused with indiscriminate equipment testing | Unnecessary risk to people or the ship | Follow requirements, instructions, operating limits and risk assessment |
| Shore organization response not exercised | Communications and support may fail during an emergency | Periodically include ship-shore interfaces and relevant external parties |
| Versions or contacts differ between ship and shore | Delay, conflicting instructions and loss of control | Use document control and periodic checks of contact details and responsibilities |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Define the objective, scenario, observers, stop criteria and expected results for each drill.
- Distinguish simulated actions from equipment actually operated and record that choice.
- Exercise shore-company communications and decisions, not only crew response.
- Link every finding to an owner, due date and effectiveness check.
- Keep drill records, section 10 maintenance and statutory equipment checks separate but coordinated.
Preparation Checklist
Educational checklist. This summary supports learning and preparation only. It does not replace the vessel's approved procedures, manuals, statutory documents, Company SMS, or applicable official requirements. Completing it demonstrates neither compliance nor readiness for an inspection: it shows that a list has been read, not that the ship is in order. Always verify the current documents carried on board.
- Ship-relevant scenarios identified and prioritized
- Initial actions, escalation, roles and communications defined
- Versions, contacts and responsibilities aligned between ship and shore
- Frequencies and content checked against applicable instruments
- Drill safety assessed; simulation and actual operation clearly distinguished
- Shore organization and relevant external interfaces included as programmed
- Observations, actions, owners and due dates recorded
- Action effectiveness verified and plans updated where necessary
FAQ
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Certified substantive revision: 29 August 2026 · page fingerprint 380c8ff65090