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What it is: ISGOTT is the definitive operational safety guide published jointly by OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) and ICS (International Chamber of Shipping). It is universally treated as the gold standard for safe tanker operations, though it is a industry guide rather than a statutory convention.
Main Contents of ISGOTT:
General Hazards & Basic Safety: Covers flammability parameters, toxicity of hydrocarbon vapors, pyrophoric iron sulfide hazards, electrostatic risks, and gas-freeing safety principles.
Shipboard Safety Management: Rules regarding smoking controls, galley safety, portable electronic device restrictions, hot work permit protocols, and enclosed space entry controls.
Terminal Safety Management: Regulations governing safe mooring configurations, shore emergency access lanes, and international shore connections.
Ship-to-Terminal Interface Operations: Pre-arrival communications, alignment of emergency shutdown (ESD) linkages, bunker procedures, and vapor emission control frameworks.
The SSSCL (Ship/Shore Safety Checklist): This is the most famous operational part of ISGOTT. It is a comprehensive checklist that must be jointly verified, physically inspected, and signed by the Ship’s Cargo Officer and Terminal Representative before any cargo transfer can begin. It enforces ongoing monitoring loops throughout the operation.