What does a designated person ashore do on yachts?

What the ISM Code requires

The ISM Code makes "the Company" responsible for a safety management system. That company is the owner, or the manager or bareboat charterer who has taken on the duty of running the vessel. The IMO says every company must name a person or persons ashore with direct access to the highest level of management, so there is a link between the office and the people on board. The Code became mandatory through resolution A.741(18) in 1993 and came into force on 1 July 1998.

IMO guidance on running the Code says the company must give the DPA staff, material resources, training, clearly written authority, and the right to report non-conformities straight to top management. The MCA's interpretation puts it plainly. Running the safety management system is a management job, and the DPA's key part is monitoring it. A DPA should know ship operations or management systems and know the company's own policies and manual thoroughly.

Which yachts need a DPA

Bluewater describes the DPA as required by the ISM Code for all commercial vessels over 500 GT. Dockwalk notes that smaller yachts running a scaled-down "mini-ISM" have no requirement for a shore-based DPA, though it advises keeping a reliable contact ashore with the crew list, next of kin and key numbers for insurers, flag and surveyors.

On a managed yacht the management company usually holds the Document of Compliance and appoints the DPA. Camper & Nicholsons describes this on its own pages: the flag issues the DOC, the company appoints a DPA as the direct link between yacht and top management, its fleet manager runs an annual internal audit on board, and the flag audits both yacht and company. Yotspot adds that many private yachts also name a DPA.

The job day to day

IMO guidance lists what the DPA monitors as a minimum. That covers how the safety and environmental policy is communicated, whether the system works, reports and analysis of non-conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences, internal audits, changes to the manual, and whether the yacht has enough resources and shore support. In practice that means reading reports from captains, following up findings, arranging audits and pushing for corrections.

When something goes wrong the DPA is the first call ashore. Bluewater gives the example of a crew injury: the DPA must be told quickly so that flag, insurers and others are notified. The same source says the DPA must be reachable 24 hours a day, and the contact details belong on the crew notice board. A good DPA is also the person a deckhand can call about an unsafe practice without going through the bridge.

How a former officer qualifies

IMO circular MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.6 sets out the qualifications, training and experience for the role. A training provider listed on YaCrew summarises the minimum education as one of three routes: a relevant tertiary qualification in management, engineering or physical science; qualifications and sea time as a certified STCW officer; or other formal education plus at least three years of senior experience in ship management operations.

For yacht officers the second route is the natural one. Yotspot says employers usually look for a Master Mariner, Chief Engineer or naval architect with shipping operations behind them, plus working knowledge of ISM, ISPS, MLC 2006, MARPOL, SOLAS and the main yacht flags. Most then take a dedicated DPA course. One listed on YaCrew runs for three days and covers audit technique, reporting, risk and the legal position of the DPA.

What you need

• Formal educationUnder IMO Circ.6, as summarised by a course provider: a relevant tertiary qualification, STCW officer certification with sea time, or other education plus three years of senior ship management experience.
• Sea or operations experienceThe MCA expects DPAs to be experienced in ship operations or management systems. Yotspot says employers usually want a Master, Chief Engineer or naval architect.
• Knowledge of the rulesWorking knowledge of the ISM Code, ISPS Code, MLC 2006, MARPOL, SOLAS and flag requirements, according to Yotspot.
• DPA trainingA DPA course built on MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.6 is the usual step. One provider on YaCrew runs a three-day course and asks delegates to bring the 2018 edition of the ISM Code.
• Audit skillsThe DPA organises and monitors internal audits and follows up non-conformities, so audit and inspection discipline matters.
• AvailabilityBluewater says the DPA must be reachable 24 hours a day, with contact details posted for all crew.

How to get there

1. Early careerOfficer or engineer at seaBuild sea time and a senior deck or engineering ticket, and learn the safety management system from the inside as safety officer or head of department.
2. Mid careerSenior post on boardServe as captain, chief officer or chief engineer on ISM yachts, handling audits, drills and reports to the office.
3. Before moving ashoreDPA trainingTake a DPA course based on IMO MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.6 covering audit technique, incident reporting and risk.
4. First shore postShore compliance roleJoin a management company in a compliance, safety or fleet role. Yotspot lists posts such as yacht compliance manager and DPA and safety manager.
5. Once trustedAppointed DPAThe company names you as DPA for its managed yachts, with direct access to top management.

Related pages

• Designated Person Ashore (DPA) role guide
• Yacht Safety Manager role guide
• Yacht Compliance Manager role guide

Sources

1. IMO: the ISM Code
2. IMO: guidelines for operational implementation of the ISM Code (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5)
3. Maritime and Coastguard Agency: MSIS 2, the ISM Code (withdrawn HTML edition)
4. Maritime and Coastguard Agency: MSIS 02 R10.24 instructions to surveyors
5. Bluewater: what is a designated person ashore
6. Yotspot: compliance and DPA careers
7. YaCrew: Designated Person Ashore course, Maritime Skills Academy
8. Dockwalk: how a mini-ISM can save your hide
9. Camper & Nicholsons: ISM, ISPS and MLC compliance