How should a ship´s Operational Management System be designed?

Main Article Content

José Ramón San Cristóbal
Francisco José Sánchez Díaz de la Campa
Saul Salinas Cubero
Ramón Alvargonzález Ucha
Víctor Fernández Álvarez

Abstract

Abstract.


The ISM Code’s functional approach aims to ensure that management systems are tailored to meet the specific needs of each ship and shipping company. However, our literature review reveals that the Code may lead to a documentation-centric approach, disconnected from the operational reality of the ship (Størkersen, 2020). This documentation describes a parallel reality that is commonly referred to as audit loops.


It should be noted that these harmful issues should not be attributed to the Code itself. Some inspectors, auditors, and shipping companies view the Code as a mere source of prescriptive rules, overlooking its functional intent. This may be due to the fact that the functional approach of the Code can only be fully understood from a thorough knowledge of what an operational management system is and how it works.


In this article, we will examine the root causes of the aforementioned negative effects of the Code and provide recommendations on how to mitigate them.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

José Ramón San Cristóbal, University of Cantabria

Associate Professor

Project Management Research Group

https://web.unican.es/portal-investigador/grupos/detalle-grupo?g=902

Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Shipbuilding, School of Nautical Studies, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain

Francisco José Sánchez Díaz de la Campa, University of Cantabria

Associate Professor

Project Management Research Group

https://web.unican.es/portal-investigador/grupos/detalle-grupo?g=902

Department of Sciences & Techniques of Navigation and Shipbuilding, School of Nautical Studies, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain

Saul Salinas Cubero, University of Cantabria

PhD Student

PhD in Nautical, Marine and Naval Radioelectronic Engineering

Universidad de Cantabria; Universidad de La Laguna; Universidad de Oviedo; la Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya

Ramón Alvargonzález Ucha , University of Cantabria

PhD Student

PhD in Nautical, Marine, and Naval Radioelectronics Engineering

Universidad de Cantabria; Universidad de La Laguna; Universidad de Oviedo; Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya

Víctor Fernández Álvarez, University of Cantabria

PhD Student

PhD in Nautical, Marine, and Naval Radioelectronics Engineering

Universidad de Cantabria; Universidad de La Laguna; Universidad de Oviedo; Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya