Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Crew Familiarisation and Training

The ISM Code doesn't just ask you to train the crew: it asks you to demonstrate that every new member knows their duties before the ship leaves port.

familiarisation training ISM par. 6 SMS

## Operational Explanation

The ISM Code (paragraph 6) requires that every new crew member, and every member transferred to a new assignment related to safety and environmental protection, receive adequate familiarisation with their duties. The essential instructions to be given prior to sailing must be identified, documented and actually delivered, not simply listed in a procedure.

Familiarisation typically covers: the shipboard organisation and lines of communication, the location and use of safety and emergency equipment relevant to the individual's assignment, safety-critical operating procedures relevant to their role, and the duties assigned in the muster list. This complements, without replacing, the professional training required by STCW for the specific qualification.

## Regulatory Reference

ISM Code, paragraph 6 (Resources and Personnel): the Company must ensure each ship is suitably manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit personnel, and that new personnel receive proper familiarisation with their duties; complementary professional training requirements under STCW.

## Scope of Application

Every new crew member joining the ship, and every member transferred to a different assignment with safety or environmental protection responsibilities.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Identify, in the SMS procedure, the essential instructions to be given prior to sailing for each shipboard role.
2. Conduct familiarisation on the shipboard organisation, lines of communication and duties assigned in the muster list.
3. Verify practical knowledge of the location and use of the safety and emergency equipment relevant to the specific role.
4. Document completion of familiarisation with the signature of the new member and the responsible officer, within the timeframe set by internal procedure (typically before sailing or within a limited number of days of joining).
5. Schedule periodic refresher training for personnel already on board, not just for new arrivals.

## Practical Example

Example of application: a new Third Officer, joining a few hours before departure, receives from the Chief Officer a documented briefing on shipboard organisation, muster duties, the location of PPE and internal communication procedures, with a completion signature before the ship leaves the berth.

## Real Cases

The absence of documented familiarisation for a new crew member is one of the most frequent Non-Conformities found in ISM audits, often discovered only after an incident in which the crew member involved did not know the procedure or the location of the equipment relevant to their role.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Familiarisation treated as a formality to be signed off, without real knowledge transfer | Crew nominally 'familiarised' but unprepared in a real emergency | Conduct familiarisation as an active briefing with a practical check, not just a signed form
Familiarisation postponed until after departure due to lack of time before joining | Ship under way with personnel not adequately instructed on safety duties | Always complete the essential instructions before departure, even in condensed form if time is limited
No periodic refresher for crew already on board, only for new arrivals | Knowledge deteriorates over time even for experienced personnel | Schedule periodic refresher training even for already-familiarised crew

## PSC Observations

ISM auditors and, indirectly, PSCOs verify through crew interviews whether crew members actually know their safety duties; inconsistent answers or ignorance of muster duties are a sign of inadequate familiarisation.

## Operational Tips

- Treat familiarisation as an active briefing with a practical check, not a form to be signed.
- Always complete the essential instructions before departure, even in condensed form if time is limited.
- Schedule periodic refresher training even for crew who have been on board for some time.

## Checklist

- Essential instructions per role identified and documented in the SMS procedure
- Familiarisation conducted and documented before departure
- Practical knowledge of safety equipment verified, not just declared
- Muster list duties clear to the new member
- Periodic refreshers scheduled even for experienced crew

## FAQ

Does ISM familiarisation replace STCW training?
No: they are complementary. STCW training certifies general professional qualification, while ISM familiarisation covers specific adaptation to the ship and the role assigned on board.
How long before departure must familiarisation be completed?
The ISM Code requires the essential instructions to be given before departure; the Company's internal procedure sets the operational detail, but the principle is that a new member must not sail without knowing the safety-critical duties.
What does an ISM auditor check regarding familiarisation?
Typically they directly interview the most recently joined crew members, checking whether they know the shipboard organisation, their muster duties and the location of the safety equipment relevant to them.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Non Conformity (NC) Management Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Plan Musters and Abandon Ship Drill

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