Importance of ISGOTT 6th Edition and why it is necessary to follow it

ISGOTT stands for International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals. The basic purpose
of ISGOTT 6th edition to discharge operational advice to the personnel who are directly involved
in the tanker and terminal operations. The guideline always emphasises on the fact that the people
who are directly involved with the ships operations are able to provide proper assistance,
information, guidance and support to the master who oversees the day to day running of the ship
on regular basis.

The guide also insists that the terminal management should inform the people working at the
terminal to follow safe practices during the operations. The guide ensure in safe and proper
shipping of crude oil from one terminal to another. The ISGOTT is jointly published by three
authorities.

1. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

2. The International Oil Tanker and Terminal Safety Guide published on behalf of the Oil
Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF).

3. The International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code is regulated by International

Maritime Organization (IMO). The code is considered as the worldwide shipping standard for the
transportation of dangerous goods via sea routes.

IMDG Code 2015 is effective from January 1, 2017 and will become mandatory on January 1,
2018. The code is written in consultation with several government regulations under the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). It is developed as a uniform
international code for the transport of dangerous goods via sea route. It covers issues such as
packing, container traffic and stowage, with particular reference to the segregation of
incompatible substances.

Knowledge of both ISGOTT and IMDG code is essential for people working at terminal
operations and sailors and engineers who are on-board the ship for safety of the crude oil, ship
route and the crew itself. Non-compliance of code could lead to severe legal actions and fines.
Here is how shipping organizations and companies who are running shipping terminal should
educate the employee.

They should be given proper training about the importance of following these safety code as it
involves the lives of hundreds of people and a lot of investment.
The should be give physical copies of these codes and should be advised to keep them all the
time. The copies will help the employees to take reference from the codes whenever required to
meet safety rules and compliance all the time.