2.1.2 INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMPANY
The Company should have standing instructions for the operation of the vessel,
which must be followed by the Master. These would normally be set out in the
Safety Management Manual or the Procedure and Instruction Manual of the Safety
Management System (SMS). Any deviation from these instructions and/or orders
should be recorded in writing, providing the reason for the deviation and the
date and time the Company was notified of this deviation. The Master and the
officers should bear in mind that an unreasonable deviation from, or non-compliance
with the written procedures may have serious consequences, not only for the
company but also for the individual concerned, particularly if it involves an
accident or incident.
If the Master is to take over the command of a vessel, he/she should
familiarise himself with the company sms, SSP and any other standing instructions
prior to assuming full command.
The Master should be fully familiar with
the Company’s documented SMS
the lines of communication and responsibilities
any particularities of the vessel’s SMS
the documented Ship Security Plan (SSP), and
the lines of communication under the SSP.
Where there is no legal requirement for a SMS or a SSP, there should be operating
and security standards of at least the same level of operation in place.
The vessel’s SMS must be strictly adhered to. If non-conformities can
be established by third parties, e.g. claimants or authorities, the Company
and the insurers may be exposed to potential liabilities and criticism of their
actions.