[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 33, Volume 1] [Revised as of July 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 33CFR96.250] [Page 235-237] TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PART 96_RULES FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF VESSELS AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS--Table of Contents Subpart B_Company and Vessel Safety Management Systems Sec. 96.250 What documents and reports must a safety management system have? The documents and reports required for a safety management system under Sec. 96.330 or Sec. 96.340 must include the written documents and reports itemized in Table 96.250. These documents and reports must be available to the company's shore-based and vessel(s)-based personnel: Table 96.250--Safety Management System Documents and Reports ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Type of documents and reports Specific requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (a) Safety and environmental policy (1) Meet the objectives of Sec. statements. 96.230; and (2) Are carried out and kept current at all levels of the company; [[Page 236]] (b) Company responsibilities and (1) The owners name and details authority statements. of responsibility for operation of the company and vessel(s); (2) Name of the person responsible for operation of the company and vessel(s), if not the owner; (3) Responsibility, authority and interrelations of all personnel who manage, perform, and verify work relating to and affecting the safety and pollution prevention operations of the company and vessel(s); and (4) A statement describing the company's responsibility to ensure adequate resources and shore-based support are provided to enable the designated person or persons to carry out the responsibilities of this subpart. (c) Designation in writing of a person (1) Have direct access to or persons to monitor the safety communicate with the highest management system for the company and levels of the company and with vessel(s). all management levels ashore and aboard the company's vessel(s); (2) Have the written responsibility to monitor the safety and environmental aspects of the operation of each vessel; and (3) Have the written responsibility to ensure there are adequate support and shore- based resources for vessel(s) operations. (d) Written statements that define the (1) Carry out the company's Master's responsibilities and safety and environmental authorities. policies; (2) Motivate the vessel's crew to observe the safety management system policies; (3) Issue orders and instructions in a clear and simple manner; (4) Make sure that specific requirements are carried out by the vessel's crew and shore- based resources; and (5) Review the safety management system and report non-conformities to shore- based management. (e) Written statements that the Master (1) Ability to make decisions has overriding responsibility and about safety and environmental authority to make vessel decisions. pollution; and (2) Ability to request the company's help when necessary. (f) Personnel procedures and resources (1) Masters of vessels are which are available ashore and aboard properly qualified for ship.. command; (2) Masters of vessels know the company's safety management system; (3) Owners or companies provide the necessary support so that the Master's duties can be safely performed; (4) Each vessel is properly crewed with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers complying with national and international requirements; (5) New personnel and personnel transferred to new assignments involving safety and protection of the environment are properly introduced to their duties; (6) Personnel involved with the company's safety management system have an adequate understanding of the relevant rules, regulations, codes and guidelines; (7) Needed training is identified to support the safety management system and ensure that the training is provided for all personnel concerned; (8) Communication of relevant procedures for the vessel's personnel involved with the safety management system is in the language(s) understood by them; and (9) Personnel are able to communicate effectively when carrying out their duties as related to the safety management system. (g) Vessel safety and pollution (1) Define tasks; and prevention operation plans and (2) Assign qualified personnel instructions for key shipboard to specific tasks. operations.. (h) Emergency preparedness procedures.. (1) Identify, describe and direct response to potential emergency shipboard situations; (2) Set up programs for drills and exercises to prepare for emergency actions; and (3) Make sure that the company's organization can respond at anytime, to hazards, accidents and emergency situations involving their vessel(s). (i) Reporting procedures on required (1) Report non-conformities of actions.. the safety management system; (2) Report accidents; (3) Report hazardous situations to the owner or company; and (4) Make sure reported items are investigated and analyzed with the objective of improving safety and pollution prevention. [[Page 237]] (j) Vessel maintenance procedures. (1) Inspect vessel's equipment, (These procedures verify that a hull, and machinery at company's vessel(s) is maintained in appropriate intervals; conformity with the provisions of (2) Report any non-conformity relevant rules and regulations, with or deficiency with its any additional requirements which may possible cause, if known; be established by the company.). (3) Take appropriate corrective actions; (4) Keep records of these activities; (5) Identify specific equipment and technical systems that may result in a hazardous situation if a sudden operational failure occurs; (6) Identify measures that promote the reliability of the equipment and technical systems identified in paragraph (j)(5), and regularly test standby arrangements and equipment or technical systems not in continuous use; and (7) Include the inspections required by this section into the vessel's operational maintenance routine. (k) Safety management system document (1) Procedures which establish and data maintenance. and maintain control of all documents and data relevant to the safety management system. (2) Documents are available at all relevant locations, i.e., each vessel carries on board all documents relevant to that vessels operation; (3) Changes to documents are reviewed and approved by authorized personnel; and (4) Outdated documents are promptly removed. (l) Safety management system internal (1) Periodic evaluation of the audits which verify the safety and safety management system's pollution prevention activities. efficiency and review of the system in accordance with the established procedures of the company, when needed; (2) Types and frequency of internal audits, when they are required, how they are reported, and possible corrective actions, if necessary; (3) Determining factors for the selection of personnel, independent of the area being audited, to complete internal company and vessel audits; and (4) Communication and reporting of internal audit findings for critical management review and to ensure management personnel of the area audited take timely and corrective action on non-conformities or deficiencies found. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note: The documents and reports required by this part are for the purpose of promoting safety of life and property at sea, as well as protection of the environment. The documents and reports are intended to ensure the communication and understanding of company and vessel safety management systems, which will allow a measure of the systems effectiveness and its responsible person to continuously improve the system and safety the system provides.