Carriage, Handling and Storage of Dangerous Goods along

84 RECOMMENDATIONS
Institutional and Capacity Building
The MRC Member Countries can make legislation where they require the shipping company of inland
waterway barges to comply with the ISM Code or a similar code.
The shipping company and the master should ensure that a safety management system is observed
by all employees. The master should be informed of the purpose of the system and his responsibility
for its functioning including regular evaluation of its efficiency, appointing members of the Safety
Committee, recording irregularities and taking corrective or preventive actions. All crewmembers
must be instructed about the purpose of an effective safety management system.
3.3.3.3 Management of Security
Target group: All barges
RECOMMENDATION
Member Countries should implement an ISM or similar code compulsory for ships transporting
dangerous goods.
Challenge
The security of barges carrying dangerous goods is not mentioned separately in the risk register.
However, special attention is given because of an attack on two Chinese cargo vessels in the Upper
Mekong on 5 October 2011. Safety and security will be strengthened along the Mekong River.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is an amendment to the Safety of Life
at Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and
government agencies. Having come into force in 2004, it prescribes responsibilities for governments,
shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility personnel to "detect security threats
and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in
international trade." The ISPS Code applies to ships on international voyages (including passenger
ships, cargo ships of 500 GT and upwards, and mobile offshore drilling units) and the port facilities
serving such ships. The main objectives of the ISPS Code are to:
• detect security threats and implement security measures;
• establish roles and responsibilities concerning maritime security for governments, local
administrations, ship and port industries at the national and international level;
• collate and promulgate security-related information; and
• provide a methodology for security assessments to have in place plans and procedures to
react to changing security levels;
For ships, the framework includes requirements for:
• ship security plans;
• ship security officers;
• company security officers; and
• certain onboard equipment.