Designated Person (DPA)

To ensure the safe operation of each ship and to provide a link between the company and those on board, every company, as appropriate, should designate a person or persons ashore having direct access to the highest level of management. 

Responsibility and authority of a DPA:

The responsibility and authority of the designated person or persons should include monitoring the safety and pollution prevention aspects of the operation of each ship and ensuring that adequate resources and shore-based support are applied, as required.

The designated person should verify and monitor all safety and pollution prevention activities in the operation of each ship. 

This monitoring should include, at least, the following internal processes: 

• communication and implementation of the safety and environmental protection policy

• evaluation and review of the effectiveness of the safety management system;

• reporting and analysis of non-conformities, accidents, and hazardous occurrences;

• organizing and monitoring of internal audits including verification of independence and training of internal auditors

• appropriate revisions to the SMS; and

• ensuring that adequate resources and shore-based support are provided by the Company. 

Role of DPA:

To enable the designated person to carry out this role effectively, the Company should provide adequate resources and shore-based support. These include:

• personnel resources;

• material resources;

• any training required;

• clearly defined and documented responsibility and authority; and

• authority for reporting non-conformities and observations to the highest level of management. 

Designated Person(s) should have the qualifications, training, and experience to effectively verify and monitor the implementation of the safety management system in compliance with the ISM Code.

Qualification of DPA:

Designated Person should have a minimum of formal education as follows:

• qualifications from a tertiary institution recognized by the Administration or by the recognized organization, within a relevant field of management, engineering or physical science, or

• qualifications and seagoing experience as a certified ship officer pursuant to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, or

• other formal education combined with not less than three years of practical senior-level experience in ship management operations. 

Training of DPA:

Designated Person should have undergone training relating to safety management elements in compliance with the requirements of the ISM Code, particularly with regard to:

• knowledge and understanding of the ISM Code;

• mandatory rules and regulations;

• applicable codes, guidelines, and standards as appropriate;

• assessment techniques of examining, questioning, evaluating, and reporting;

• technical or operational aspects of safety management;

• appropriate knowledge of shipping and shipboard operations;

• participation in at least one marine-related management system audit; and

• effective communications with shipboard staff and senior management. 

Experience of DPA:

Designated Person should have the experience to :

• present ISM matters to the highest level of management and gain sustained support for safety management system improvements.

• determine whether the safety management system elements meet the requirements of the ISM Code.

• determine the effectiveness of the safety management system within the Company and the ship by using established principles of internal audit and management review to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.

• assess the effectiveness of the safety management system in ensuring compliance with other rules and regulations which are not covered by statutory and classification surveys and enabling verification of compliance with these rules and regulations.

• assess whether the safe practices recommended by the Organization, Administrations, classification societies, other international bodies, and maritime industry organizations to promote a safety culture had been taken into account and

• gather and analyze data from hazardous occurrences, hazardous situations, near misses, incidents, and accidents and apply the lessons learned to improve the safety management system within the Company and its ships. 

Company Requirements and Records:

• The Company should provide training courses covering qualification, training, and experience and the appropriate procedures connected to compliance with the ISM Code including practical training and continuous updating. 

• The Company should also provide documentary evidence that the Designated Person has the relevant qualification, training, and experience to undertake the duties under the provisions of the ISM Code. 

Reference: 

1. IMO Publications & Documents - International Codes - ISM Code - Part A - Implementation - Section 3
2. IMO Publications & Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - Resolutions A.741(18).
3. IMO Publications & Documents - MSC - MEPC.7/Circular.6.
4. IMO Publications & Documents - MSC - MEPC.7/Circular.8.