ESMS - INTRODUCTION

This software is developed under guidance of Shakil Ahmed the CEO of Sea Breeze Marine Services who is serving on Merchant Ships in the capacity of Chief Marine Engineer holding Certificate of Competency 1st Class from England United Kingdom.
Incorporated Engineer Member Engineering Council (IEng), United Kingdom.
Incorporated Marine Engineer Member Engineering Council (IMarEng), United Kingdom.
Member Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (MIMarEST), United Kingdom.
He also served as a Fleet Technical Superintendent in reputed ship Management Company.
During his service he has an experience of using multiple Safety Management softwares such as AMOS Jibe and Ship Sure.

Development Background of ESMS:

Having been motivated by a number of major marine casualties experienced during the 1980s and thereafter the ISM Code was drawn up by the IMO recognizing that SYSTEMATICALLY ORGANIZED and DOCUMENTED shipping practices integrating shore-based management and ships are indispensable for the safe operation of ships and for protection of marine environment.
Any Ship Management Company must structure a SMS which meets the requirements of the ISM Code and it should be DOCUMENTED IMPLEMENTED and MAINTAINED. The company should then obtain a DOC for the main office and SMCs for their Ships upon satisfactory completion of Audits conducted by the Flag State Administration.
The ISM Code chapter 11 Documentation states that:
11.1 The Company should establish and maintain procedures to control all documents and Data which are relevant to the safety management system.
11.2 The Company should ensure that:
.1 valid documents are available at all relevant locations;
.2 changes to documents are reviewed and approved by authorized personnel; and
.3 obsolete documents are promptly removed.
11.3 The documents used to describe and implement the safety management system may be referred to as the Safety Management Manual. Documentation should be kept in the form that the Company considers most effective. Each ship should carry on board all documentation relevant to that ship.
To follow the guidelines set by the ISM code the company should cover the following provisions for the successful operation of the vessel:
1. continuously improve safety management skills of personnel ashore and aboard ships including preparing for emergencies related both to safety and environmental protection.
2. It should ensure that all personnel involved in the company’s safety management system have an adequate understanding of relevant rules regulations codes and guidelines.
To comply with the requirements of the ISM Code and Safety Management System of the company the IT department of Sea Breeze Marine Services has developed a software called ESMS an Electronic Safety Management System.
ESMS is an Online Database driven Ship Safety Management Documentation System which has been developed to facilitate Ship Owners and Managers to monitor their vessels performance its Safety Management Documentation and in early certification of their vessels.
Some of the ESMS features are:
1) ESMS will be helpful in obtaining Safety management certification SMC for a vessel without wasting anytime
2) ESMS can be installed online
3) ESMS can run online or on local host
4) ESMS is a low cost software as compare to the other expensive available shipping softwares
5) ESMS is an easy to use and does not require any complex training
6) While using ESMS there will be no need to fill the forms and checklists manually
7) ESMS can be customized as per the need of any type of vessel and its Safety Management System
8) While using ESMS online it can be operated on multiple devices such as on Cell Phones, iPads and Computers
9) ESMS can be presented to the Flag State and Classification Society for the approval as a part of Company's Safety Management System
10) During an SMS Audit Auditors do spend plenty of time in Office and on vessel for the checking of SMS Documentation which causes delay in survey To avoid this the company's DPA can provide his username and password to the Auditor which will enable him to check all of the SMS Documentation online while sitting in his own office Auditors can thereafter pay general visit just to examine other things in the company office and onboard
11) ESMS covers all most all Forms and Checklists of safety management system such as Arrival Report, Departure Report, Voyage Report, Noon Report, Deck Log Abstract, Planned Deck Maintenance, Main and Auxiliary Engines performances, Planned Engine Maintenance, Engine Log Abstract, Requisitions, Crew familiarization, Crew Rest Hour, Crew Appraisal, Crew Joining and Signing off, Hot Work Permit, Oil Record book, Risk Assessment, Enclosed space entry, accident occurrence, near miss report etc etc.
12) As soon as any ESMS form is filled and saved on board the same can be viewed and printed out in the Ship Owner or Manager office There is no need for the documents to be sent to the office by any other means from any port as it can be saved viewed and printed out online
13) As the system can keep unlimited records all the data will be stored in the database and can be viewed and printed out whenever required regardless of any time period
14) An online demo for ESMS is available upon request
Now a days only few companies are using Electronic documentation System or Software for the safety management documentation of their vessels but in the upcoming future it will be mandatory by all Flag States and Classification societies to use such as the ESMS an electronic documentation system or software for their vessels safety management documentation.