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RightShip Guide

THE DEEPDRAFT · RIGHTSHIP PREPARATION

SMS implementation and cargo hazards

RISQ 4.1Section 4 · ISM SystemSource marking: V

Applicability: All vessel types; apply the equipment and operational conditions stated in this entry.

What is being checked

Current procedures put the ISM system into practice.

Ready on board

0 / 7 checked

Check the vessel’s actual procedures, equipment and records against these points from RISQ 3.2.

Keep the latest SMS manuals, procedures and instructions available; demonstrate that shipboard work follows them.Document responsibilities, authority and relationships for personnel managing, performing and verifying safety and pollution-prevention work; assign key operational tasks to qualified people.Include operational plans, instructions and checklists addressing the cargo actually carried: solid-bulk liquefaction, chemical hazards and loading damage; grain settling, shifting, contamination, dust/fire and atmosphere hazards; or the relevant general-cargo operations.For containers, address stowage/securing, stability/stress, dangerous-goods segregation, misdeclared weights, out-of-gauge/reefer/open-door containers, above/below-deck stowage, lashing strength, visibility and heavy weather.Include an onboard-publications list in the SMS and carry publications required by national requirements and the SMS.For gravity-based or hybrid self-unloaders, include starting/stopping, prevention of overload and trapped foreign material, speed/discharge rate, electrical/hydraulic controls, gates/conveyors/elevator/boom, energy isolation, emergency stops and gate cleaning.For those self-unloaders, address gate blockage, off-track gates, lost gate power and foreign objects obstructing gates.

Practice questions

Preparation prompts derived from this entry, not an official inspector interview script.

1Does every publication mentioned by IMO automatically become a finding if absent?

No. The PDF requires a finding for publications required by national requirements or the SMS. It explicitly excludes a finding solely for absence of publications not specifically required, unless the SMS requires them.

2What makes this SMS check specific to a dry ship?

The procedures must cover the actual cargo hazards and operating equipment, including self-unloading arrangements where fitted.

Where a finding may arise

RISQ explicitly requires a finding for missing publications required by national requirements or the SMS. Other publications discussed as useful reading do not automatically create a finding. Actual compliance with SMS procedures is assessed throughout the inspection.

Past observations for practice

Anonymised reports, manually reviewed before publication. These are reported experiences, not additional inspection requirements.

No reviewed observations have been added for this entry.

Share an observation for private review

Remove vessel, company and inspector names, report numbers, exact dates and confidential information. Do not paste a complete inspection report.

References and source status

RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, November 2025, version 3.2. Section 4, page 39, reference 4.1.

The explanation, checklist and practice answer derive from the supplied questionnaire. Reported observations are separately contributed and manually reviewed; they are not official RISQ guidance.

Independent DeepDraft preparation guide, based on the supplied RISQ 3.2 questionnaire. Not an official RightShip product or inspection report.