The ISM code in the context of Swedish port state control statistics

This article presents the results of a study evaluating the International Safety Management (ISM) Code’s effects on vessel performance in port state control (PSC) inspections in Swedish ports. PSC statistics are compared and analyzed between vessels that were required to implement the Code by 1998 and vessels that were not. Additionally, the results of a survey and interviews of Swedish PSC inspectors are considered and discussed. The paper concludes that a number of indicators suggest that ISM has the potential to positively impact vessel performance in PSC inspections.