Project Title: ASTM - Ship Safety Data Record

SOCP members participated in the Computer Applications subcommittee, F25.05, under the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) committee on Ships and Marine Technology to develop a Standard Guide for Vessel-Related Technical Information for Use in Developing an Electronic Database and Ship Safety Record, ASTM F2001-00.  This Standard Guide consists of a list of defined vessel related attributes and information that is designed to allow any interested maritime related organization to assess the ability of that vessel to operate safely at the present time and in the short term future.  The Standard Guide is primarily designed for the benefit of the vessel owner/operator who is required under the ISM Code to be cognizant of such information.  It is expected that vessel owner/operators will make portions of their Ship Safety Data Record available to other interested parties, such as Port States and Flag State authorities and Class Societies to allow more efficient methods of verification of compliance with applicable maritime regulations.

It is envisioned that a Ship Safety Data Record will be maintained in electronic format both onboard the vessel and in the owner/operator's home office.  Portions of it can be made available electronically to the appropriate authorities on a demand basis to allow them to remotely gauge compliance with applicable maritime regulations.    This will save the owner/operator time and money by reducing unnecessary compliance verification events, i.e. port state control boardings, class surveys, insurance audits, verification of corrective action of deficiencies uncovered, etc.   The standard provides a guide or format for the presentation of a specific set of data suitable for communication (data transfer), interpretation, and processing.

This ASTM standard has the potential to better define the details of applying the ISM Code requirements to vessel operations.  The Safety Data Record has the capability to make regulatory compliance verification a much more efficient process for owner/operators committed to safe vessel operations, by assisting Flag and Port States to better target their smaller compliance verification resources at sub-standard vessels.

It is critical to note that the intent of this standard is to list possible shipboard safety data that could benefit an owner/operator in expediting reporting, plus other requirements.  The data in the Ship Safety Data Record belongs to the owner/operator who determines how it will used.

The Standard Guide for Vessel-Related Technical Information for Use in Developing an Electronic Database and Ship Safety Record, ASTM F2001-00 has been published and can be purchased from ASTM.  [Click here] for addition information on purchasing the Standard Guide.