Section 1 incorporates the SOLAS 74 Chapter IX requirement that shipowners implement a shore-based and shipboard safe management system in compliance with the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code).

Section 2 requires ships be in an approved Safe Ship Management (SSM) system managed by and approved by the Director of Maritime NZ for that purpose.

The rules prescribe the conditions of entry to a Safe Ship Management system and for remaining within that system. It includes the requirement for compliance with the NZ Safe Ship Management Code, which appears as an appendix to Part 21.

Part 21 of the maritime rules applies to:

Section 1 applies to foreign-going commercial ships which are subject to SOLAS 74, and to ships of 45 metres or more in length (other than fishing ships) which proceed beyond restricted limits.

Section 2 applies to commercial ships which are restricted limit ships, fishing ships and ships of less than 45 metres that go beyond restricted limits but are not SOLAS ships.

Download Part 21

Maritime Rules Part 21: Safe Ship Management Systems [PDF: 132Kb, 41 pages]

Part 21 supporting documents - any amendments, proposed amendments and advice

Advisory circular on Part 21, 1997 [PDF: 1.49Mb, 8 pages]

Amendment to Part 21, 2009 [PDF: 102Kb, 11 pages]
Amendment to Part 21, 2008 [PDF: 466Kb, 69 pages]

Original rule, 1997 [PDF: 5.01Mb, 51 pages]

History of Part 21

Part 21 Section 1 came into force on 21st August 1997; Section 2 followed on 1st February 1998.

This Part was amended by Maritime (Various Amendments) Rules Part 20-91 in 2008.