Why ISM Code Matters More Than You Think — And What Is The Purpose of It

Markus Luostarinen
Nov 21, 2025
4 min read

PSC conducting an ISM related inspection onboard a ship — *Most seafarers only ever see the symptoms of ISM. They see the forms, the familiar routines, the audits. They rarely see the strategy or the bigger picture behind it.*

If you’ve ever worked at sea, you’ve most likely filled out more checklists, permits, and forms than you care to remember. Hot work permits. RA reviews. Pre-departure checklists. Pre-arrival checklist. Watch handover checklists. Checklists to fill a checklist and so on. And most probably you have also been wondering if all that paperwork is actually doing anything?

“I know how to do my job, why do I need a form to prove it?”

I’ve been there myself.

For years, the ISM Code didn't really mean much to me. A management system imposed from the office, not something I truly needed or even cared to be honest. But since I got more interested in maritime compliance and started studying the ISM Code properly, my perception changed. I started to realize the purpose of it.

All those checklists I considered just an extra work were actually the only structured barrier standing between a normal day and a catastrophic one.

And suddenly, the ISM Code stopped being “the paperwork system" and became the operational safety engine it was designed to be.

Why Even Experienced Crew Often Miss the True Purpose of The ISM Code

Marine officer smiling and being supportive. — *Strongest positive attitudes towards ISM is achieved when safety procedures are well-designed, the work-environment is supportive, and communication is clear.*

The truth is this:

Most seafarers only ever see the symptoms of ISM. They see the forms, the familiar routines, the audits. They rarely see the strategy or the bigger picture behind it. They might even know the purpose of the ISM Code, but they can't see the connection between the daily routines and the code itself.

And because ISM is embedded in your daily workflow, it’s easy to take it for granted. Engineers especially solve problems instinctively: you troubleshoot, you fix, you adapt. That mindset is powerful — and it works when things break down — but it can also overshadow a structured risk thinking. In fact, a qualitative work in two ship-management companies revealed that managers and seafarers often have “fundamentally different understanding of the purpose of the Code”.

Recent research supports what my own experience hinted at: a survey of 330 seafarers found that the strongest positive attitudes towards ISM came when safety procedures were well-designed, the work-environment was supportive, and communication was clear.

What we seafarers often forget is that every form, every checklist and every simple review, exists because someone, somewhere, got badly hurt or worse. ISM is built from hard lessons paid in the past. It is built to make you, me, and all the other seafarers to finish their day without injuries or accidents, and eventually go home safe.

But unless someone explains the why, the system feels disconnected from the daily work onboard.

The ISM Code Is Not About Paperwork. It's About Predictability.

A well-implemented SMS is not a pile of documents.

It is a system designed so that:

Procedures are repeatable, even when crew changes
Risks are controlled, even when the ship is under pressure
No task relies on one person’s memory, experience, or mood
Incidents trigger learning, not blame
The vessel operates safely even on its worst day, not just its best one

When you understand ISM this way, you stop seeing checklists as paperwork and start seeing them as controls. Checklsits are anchors that keep operations predictable even when conditions are not.

A Realisation That Changed My Career

When I began studying ISM more deeply as part of my Lead Auditor training, I realised how much I had overlooked through my years onboard.

I knew how to “work safely”. But I didn’t know why the system around me existed, or how much thought had gone into each requirement.

Why a Permit to Work eliminates ambiguity
Why Toolbox Talks matter more than the job itself sometimes
Why RA reviews are often more valuable than RA creation
Why near-miss reporting is one of the strongest tools a ship has
Why closing non-conformities properly can prevent disasters

ISM is not “office work”.

ISM is the bridge between experience and safety.

Why Shipping Companies Should Care — Even If Their Crew Already ‘Know Their Jobs’

The biggest misconception among many shipping companies is thinking:

“Our crew are experienced. They know what to do.”

Experience is valuable, but experience without structure is randomness.

Shipping companies that take ISM seriously don’t just avoid NCs and PSC deficiencies. They:

reduce accidents
reduce machinery failures
reduce insurance claims
reduce off-hire
reduce unexpected port expenses
increase transparency
build a healthier safety culture

In other words: ISM isn’t merely a regulatory burden, it is a performance tool.

How Ilmarine Maritime Helps You Build a Stronger ISM Foundation

At Ilmarine Maritime, we believe the problem is not that seafarers don’t care. Problem is that the system is rarely explained in a practical, real-world way.

Our job is to help you:

Strengthen your ISM implementation onboard
Simplify your SMS into clear, practical tools
Identify gaps long before PSC or Class does
Provide independent ISM, ISPS & MLC audits
Support your safety culture with modern, realistic risk assessments
Help your crew understand the why, not just the what

Compliance becomes easier when the crew finally sees the logic behind it.

Final Thoughts — And an Invitation

If I could go back ten years and explain ISM to my younger self, I would say:

“It’s not about paperwork. It’s about making sure everyone goes home, and goes home safe.” (Perhaps my teachers did, I just didn't listen enough.)

That is the heart of the ISM Code.

And once you see it that way, you never look at a checklist the same again.

If you want to strengthen your ISM implementation, prepare for upcoming audits, or simply understand where your SMS may be falling short, we’re here to help.