The ISM is mandatory under SOLAS for passenger ships (including high-speed craft), oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high- speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and upwards and for their cargo ships and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and upwards.

The updated edition includes a number of new amendments relating, for instance, to: development of plans for shipboard operations; emergency preparedness; reports and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazard occurrences; and certification and verification. A number of IMO circulars are included as well as a new form: Safety Management Certificate.

This new edition will come into force on January 1, 2010.

To coincide with the extension of the range of ships to which the application of the International Safety Management Code (ISM) Code is mandatory, amendments to chapter IX of SOLAS 1974 and the ISM Code itself entered into force on 1 July 2002 and Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the ISM Code by Administrations came into effect.

Until July 2002, the ISM was mandatory under SOLAS for passenger ships (including high-speed craft), oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. As of July 1, 2002, it is also mandatory for other cargo ships and mobile offshore drilling units of 500 gross tonnage and upwards.