Analysis of the Turkish shipping companies safety management system (sms) audit results conducted by the iacs member classification societies in Turkey

The aim of this study is to investigate the safety management systems (SMS) of Turkish shipping companies in light of the company SMS audit results which are conducted by the respective classification societies. The final aim of the study is to define deficiencies in the safety management system in particular in the organization and management issues in the light of modern management approaches and systems and finally to produce proposals to improve the quality of the safety management to meet existing and future requirements. The International Safety Management (ISM) Code covers the safe operation of ships and for pollution prevention adopted by the IMO. With the entry into force, on 1 July 1998 to the SOLAS which introduced a new chapter IX into the convention, the ISM code was made mandatory. The objectives of the code are to ensure safety at sea, prevention of human injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the environment, in particular to the marine environment and to property. Shortly the ISM system is set of procedures which should be applied by shipping companies and their ships. The SMS audit is an inspection conducted class societies authorized by flag states to ensure company operation is in line with ISM procedures. The study consisting evaluation of the collected information from class societies, ensuring the reliability of the findings, discussion on the findings to obtain results and subsequently production of the proposals to overcome the deficiencies related to defined problem areas. This study is a baseline for the further studies which may provide more precise information to promote the management systems of Turkish Shipping companies.