Every industry needs a crystal clear and authorised manual to streamline various operations performed under its own sub-sectors. As the shipping industry comprises of several branches, a variety of regulatory codes are used to maintain legal operating condition of ships, shipping operator or company, and the ship’s crew with an intention to eliminate or reduce the threat to the safety of personnel or property and intentional pollution or damage to the marine environment.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is responsible to implement and amend different codes as per types of ships, goods or cargoes, Cargo operation, maritime security, shipbuilding, safety of crew, training etc.

Without complying with these codes, merchant ships, shipping companies, operators etc. cannot perform their businesses in the maritime sector. We bring you a list of codes put forth by IMO and used by ships and companies as per the regulations:

1) IMDG Code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods code for carrying dangerous cargo through sea transport. Read more about IMDG here.

2) IMSBC Code: International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code is a mandatory regulation for carrying solid cargo in bulk form.

3) IGC Code: International code for construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk. This code gives guidelines to gas tankers on operational, construction and safety aspects.

4) International Grain Code: This code is implemented on bulk carriers carrying grain cargo to ensure safety of such ships.

5) IBC Code: International code for construction and equipment of ships carrying dangerous chemicals in bulk. This code gives guidelines to chemical tankers on operational, construction, and safety aspect.

6) ISPS Code: International Ship and Port Facility Security code is meant to safeguard maritime ports and ships from threats. Read more about ISPS here.

7) ISM Code: International Safety Management Code is a complete guideline for ship owners and operators under condition of occupational safety and minimising maritime pollution.

INF Code: International code for safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High radioactive waste onboard ship is a complete guideline for all ships including cargo ships of 500GT and above carrying INF listed cargo.

9) IS Code: International Code for Intact Stability gives the construction guidelines to vessels to maintain the stability of the ship at all working conditions. To read more about Intact Stability Click here.

10) BCH Code: Code for Construction and equipment for ships carrying Dangerous Chemical in Bulk is guidelines for chemical tankers built before 1^st July 1986 for safe operation and construction of such tanker ships.

11) TDC Code: Code of safe practices for ships carrying Timber Deck Cargo gives complete guidelines for loading, stowage, construction and equipment.

12) Casualty Investing Code: This code is used to solve or to study the casualty happened onboard with the ship or with its crew.

13) CSS Code: Code of Safe Practice for Cargo stowage and securing is a guideline for onboard staff to store and secure the cargo as per the requirement.

14) SPS Code: Code for safety of Special Purpose Ships which include drilling, cable laying, Flip ship (survey ship) etc. This code elaborates all the safety aspects of such ships from construction to operation.

15) STCW Code: Seafarer’s training, certification and Watch keeping code is a guideline for producing competent seafarers all over the world. This code has recently been amended in 2010 at Manila and the revised version will enter from 1^st Jan 2012. Read more about STCW 2010.

16) OSV Code: Code of safe practices for Offshore Supply Vessel is a complete guideline for offshore vessels carrying supply cargo and personnel in coastal operations.

17) MODU Code: Mobile offshore Drilling Unit code is a requirement for construction and equipment to be used for safe operation in offshore drilling units.

18) HSC Code: High Speed Craft code is used to maintain a safe standard for construction equipment and operation of high speed vessels used in maritime industry.

19) LSA Code: International Life Saving Appliances Code comes under SOLAS which deals with the safety equipment in terms of construction, operation and other requirements for well being of crew onboard ship.

20) FSS Code: International Fire Safety System Code also comes under SOLAS. It deals with all the fire fighting appliances, measures and system to be used onboard to detect, notify and extinguish any kind of fire in sea going vessel.

21) FTP Code: Fire Test Procedure code is the guideline for manufacturers and ship builders to construct vessels and fire test parts to be used onboard ships.

Source: Marine Insight