International Safety Management Code (SOLAS)

The International Safety Management (ISM) Code came into force on 1st July 1998. It applies to the following ships, regardless of the date of their construction:

  • passenger ships (including passenger high-speed craft)
  • oil tankers
  • chemical tankers
  • gas carriers
  • bulk carriers
  • cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and above
  • cargo ships
  • mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and above.


Maritime Rules Part 21, section 1, made under the Maritime Transport Act 1994, applies to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.

Maritime Rule Part 21
Maritime Transport Act 1994 [New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office]

Documentation required

The ship's management company must have a Document of Compliance (DoC) and a copy of the ship's Safety Management Certificates (SMC). Maritime New Zealand undertakes International Safety Management (ISM) audits and issues these documents.

List of authorised Classification Societies [PDF: 74Kb, 1 page]

Contact for more Information

For more information about the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, contact Maritime New Zealand: