RECALLING the International Management Code for the Safe
Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention (International Safety
Management (ISM) Code) adopted by the
Organization by resolution A.741(18),
whereby Governments were strongly urged to implement the ISM Code on a national basis as soon as possible
but not later than 1 June 1998, pending development of the amendments
to the 1974 SOLAS Convention on the mandatory application of the Code,
NOTING that chapter IX of
the 1974 SOLAS Convention, which will, after its entry into force,
make the ISM Code mandatory under the
Convention, applies to cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and over,
thus excluding a significant number of cargo ships of less than 500
gross tonnage from the application of that chapter,
RECOGNIZING that there is a need for appropriate organization
of management to contribute to the achievements and maintenance of
high standards of safety and environmental protection by all those
serving on ships, even of less than 500 gross tonnage,
1. STRONGLY URGES Governments to implement as
far as practicable the ISM Code for
cargo ships entitled to fly their flags of 150 gross tonnage and over
but less than 500 gross tonnage;
2. REQUESTS Governments to inform the Maritime
Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee of
the Organization of the action they have taken to implement the ISM Code for cargo ships of 150 gross tonnage
and over but less than 500 gross tonnage.