ISGOTT 6th Ed. & BLU Code · Cargo Operations
ISGOTT 6th Edition Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (Parts 1A–9) & BLU Code Guide
The ISGOTT 6th Edition Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (SSSCL) is the single most important operational document during any oil tanker, chemical tanker, LPG/LNG gas carrier or tank barge port call — and its dry-bulk counterpart, the IMO BLU Code Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (SOLAS VI/7), plays the exact same role on bulk carriers. During SIRE 2.0 Chapter 8, CDI, RightShip RISQ 3.2 and Port State Control inspections, inspectors audit historical port-call files to verify that pre-arrival checks, pre-transfer conferences and timed repetitive rounds (Parts 8 & 9) were genuinely carried out and not pencil-whipped.
This guide explains all Parts 1A to 9 of the ISGOTT 6th Edition (2020) Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (including the ICS 20 July 2020 corrections notice), inert gas and ESD requirements, manifold safety, and the IMO BLU Code Appendix 3 checklist (Questions 1–21) for bulk carriers.
Updated · Written by SeaReady in our own words. Not affiliated with OCIMF, RightShip, CDI, any MoU or any administration — always check the current official documents.
1. ISGOTT 6th Edition Ship/Shore Safety Checklist: Parts 1A to 9 Explained
Published jointly by ICS, OCIMF and IAPH, the 6th Edition of ISGOTT (2020) organises the Ship/Shore Safety Checklist into nine chronological parts (with Tanker, Terminal and Joint conference sections):
| Part | Title | Responsible Party & Stage | Key Verification Items & Inspector Checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1A | Tanker: checks pre-arrival | Tanker (Before arrival) | Pre-arrival information exchanged with terminal; P/V devices and high-level/overfill alarms tested; fixed & portable gas analysers calibrated; cargo/bunker/ballast lines leak-free and blanked; emergency towing-off pennants ready; mooring gear and port communications tested. |
| Part 1B | Tanker: checks pre-arrival if using an Inert Gas System (IGS) | Tanker — Oil & Chemical (Before arrival) | IGS operational with calibrated O₂ analysers and recorders; all cargo tank atmospheres at positive pressure (> 100 mm WG) with oxygen content ≤ 8% by volume (and ≤ 5% O₂ in the inert gas main supply); deck water seal / non-return valve and P/V breaker liquid level verified. |
| Part 2 | Terminal: checks pre-arrival | Terminal (Before arrival) | Berth suitability confirmed (size, UKC/depth, manifold envelope, mooring arrangement); loading arms or cargo hoses inspected/tested; terminal emergency and spill response ready. |
| Part 3 | Tanker: checks after mooring | Tanker (After mooring) | Mooring arrangement effective and tended (winch brakes ON, never left in automatic self-tensioning mode); safe lit ship-shore access with safety net and lifebuoy; fire-fighting gear ready; scuppers plugged and manifold drip trays drained; accommodation doors/ports closed and A/C on recirculation as required; smoking/naked-light rules and radar/AIS/HF radio restrictions enforced; emergency escape routes clear. |
| Part 4 | Terminal: checks after mooring | Terminal (After mooring) | Terminal access, firefighting and emergency equipment ready; shore manifold insulating flange (or bonding exclusions) verified; terminal Emergency Shutdown (ESD) system ready. |
| Part 5A | Tanker & Terminal: pre-transfer conference | Joint (Before transfer) | Face-to-face conference covering agreed primary/backup communications and stop signals; cargo/bunker transfer plan, initial/maximum/topping-off rates and manifold pressures; ESD procedure and closure times; wind/swell/lightning stop limits; SIMOPS (bunkering, stores, repairs); venting/vapour return (VEC); COW/tank cleaning/inerting; SDS cargo hazards and H₂S/benzene toxic gas monitoring. |
| Part 5B | Bulk liquid chemicals: checks pre-transfer | Joint — Chemical Tankers / Tank Barges | Cargo compatibility, cargo inhibition certificates (polymerisation inhibitor validity/temperature limits), and chemical-specific PPE, antidote and decontamination shower readiness verified. |
| Part 5C | Liquefied gas: checks pre-transfer | Joint — LNG & LPG Carriers | Ship-shore Emergency Shutdown (ESD-1 / ESD-2 optical/electric/pneumatic) link connected and cold/warm tested; MARVS relief valve settings, tank pressures and temperatures exchanged; water curtain / deluge spray and drip-tray cryogenic protection ready. |
| Part 6 | Tanker & Terminal: agreements pre-transfer | Joint (Before transfer) | Written agreement recording the repetitive check interval for Parts 8 and 9 (typically every ≤ 4 hours), tank venting/vapour return method, and formal Declaration signatures by the Responsible Officer and Terminal Representative. |
| Parts 7A, 7B & 7C | Tanker: pre-transfer, Crude Oil Washing (COW) & Tank Cleaning / Gas Freeing | Tanker (Before operation) | Part 7A: cargo/ballast/bunker tank openings secured, line-up verified, sea/overboard valves shut and lashed/sealed, pump room ventilation and fixed gas detection running. Part 7B (Crude): pre-arrival and before/during/after COW checklists completed, tanks inerted (< 8% O₂). Part 7C: tank cleaning / gas-freeing plan agreed with terminal. |
| Parts 8 & 9 | Tanker (Part 8) & Terminal (Part 9): repetitive checks during and after transfer | Tanker & Terminal (Timed rounds during transfer) | Conducted at the agreed interval (never exceeding 4 hours unless otherwise specified): deck/terminal watch contactable, pressures/rates/ullages matching plan, moorings and gangway tended for tide/draught change, zero leaks at manifold/deck, scuppers/drip trays dry, communications working, and weather within limits (per ICS 20 July 2020 corrections notice, repetitive checks are Parts 8 and 9). |
2. Critical Tanker & Gas Carrier Manifold, IGS and ESD Walk Checks
When a vetting inspector boards during cargo transfer (which is standard for SIRE 2.0 and CDI inspections), they walk straight from the gangway to the Cargo Control Room (CCR) and manifold to verify physical compliance with the signed SSSCL:
- Inert Gas System (IGS) oxygen & deck pressure limits (Part 1B & Part 7B): Confirm that the fixed IGS oxygen analyser is calibrated with span/zero gas, the inert gas main delivery is at ≤ 5% O₂, every inerted cargo tank is maintained at < 8% O₂ by volume and positive pressure (> 100 mm WG), and the deck water seal and P/V breaker liquid levels and heating/anti-freeze arrangements are in order.
- High-level (95%) and overfill (98%) alarms & closed loading: Test independent high-level and overfill tank alarms prior to arrival/transfer and log the test in the CCR; verify that closed gauging (radar/UTI) and the ship’s P/V valves and masthead/high-velocity vents or Vapour Emission Control (VEC) line are set as agreed in Part 6.
- Manifold blank flanges, pressure gauges & insulating flange (Parts 1A, 3 & 4): Every unused cargo and bunker manifold connection must be fully bolted with a blind flange of the correct pressure rating and gasket; local calibrated pressure gauges must be fitted outboard of the manifold valves on active connections; and ship-shore electrical isolation (insulating flange or single-length non-conductive hose, never bypassed by an unapproved ship-shore bonding cable) must follow ISGOTT Chapter 17.
- Emergency Towing-Off Pennants (Fire Wires) — when and how rigged (Part 1A): ISGOTT 6th Edition notes that emergency towing-off pennants (ETOPs / fire wires) are rigged when required by the terminal or port authority (Part 1A item). Where required on the offshore bow and quarter, ensure the wire eye is maintained just above the waterline using a light tending rope (never lashed to the rail above the chock) with sufficient slack on deck between the bollard and fairlead so a tug can pull it clear immediately.
3. Tankers (ISGOTT 6) vs Solid Bulk Carriers (IMO BLU Code Appendix 3)
Under SOLAS Chapter VI Regulation 7 and the IMO BLU Code (Resolution A.862(20) as amended by MSC.238(82) and MSC.304(87)), solid bulk carriers complete a parallel Ship/Shore Safety Checklist and Loading/Unloading Plan before starting cargo work:
| Vessel Category | Governing Standard | Checklist & Mandatory Cargo Plan Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Tankers, Gas Carriers & Tank Barges | ISGOTT 6th Edition (ICS / OCIMF / IAPH, 2020) | Parts 1A to 9 (pre-arrival, IGS, mooring, pre-transfer conference, chemicals 5B, gas 5C, agreements, COW 7B, tank cleaning 7C, and timed repetitive rounds in Parts 8 & 9). |
| Solid Bulk Carriers & General Cargo Ships Loading Bulk | IMO BLU Code (Res. A.862(20), amended by MSC.238(82) & MSC.304(87)) + SOLAS VI/7 | Appendix 3 Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (Questions 1–21 covering berth depth/air draught, mooring, emergency departure, access, communications, SIMOPS, hull stress/bending moments/shear forces, hatch sequence and damage reporting) + Appendix 2 Loading/Unloading Plan + IMSBC Code Form 4.2.3 Cargo Information. |
Questions seafarers ask
Why does the ISGOTT 6th edition Ship/Shore Safety Checklist have Parts 1A to 9 instead of the old A/B/C/R letter codes?
ISGOTT 6th Edition (published by ICS, OCIMF and IAPH in 2020) replaced the 5th Edition’s single A/B/C/R coded table with a chronological 9-part workflow (Parts 1A–9) that separates pre-arrival preparation (Parts 1A, 1B, 2), post-mooring checks (Parts 3, 4), the joint pre-transfer conference and specialist chemical/gas checks (Parts 5A, 5B, 5C, 6, 7A–7C), and timed repetitive checks during transfer (Parts 8 and 9, as clarified by the ICS 20 July 2020 corrections notice). This ensures individual items are checked at the right operational stage rather than ticked all at once.
How often must the repetitive checks in ISGOTT Parts 8 and 9 be recorded during cargo transfer?
Under ISGOTT 6th Edition Part 6, the ship and terminal agree in writing on the interval between repetitive checks before cargo transfer starts. Industry standard and OCIMF SIRE 2.0 / CDI expectation is that repetitive checks in Part 8 (Tanker) and Part 9 (Terminal) are physically performed and logged at intervals not exceeding 4 hours (and often every 2 to 4 hours), with the exact time of each round recorded.
Why must mooring winches never be left in automatic "self-tensioning" mode while connected to a tanker manifold?
ISGOTT Part 3 requires mooring winch brakes to be firmly applied and winches taken out of automatic self-tensioning mode once moored at a berth. If a winch is left in automatic tension mode, a passing ship’s interaction, strong current or wind gust can cause the winch to pay out automatically, allowing the vessel to surge along the jetty and fracture the rigid loading arms or cargo hoses at the manifold.
Which ship/shore checklist applies to a bulk carrier loading iron ore, coal or grain?
Solid bulk carriers use the IMO BLU Code (Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers, Resolution A.862(20) as amended by MSC.238(82) and MSC.304(87)) Appendix 3 Ship/Shore Safety Checklist (Questions 1–21) together with the mandatory SOLAS Regulation VI/7.3 Loading/Unloading Plan (Appendix 2) and the shipper’s IMSBC Code Cargo Declaration (including Transportable Moisture Limit TML and actual moisture content for Group A cargoes). SeaReady’s /tools/isgott module automatically switches between ISGOTT 6th Ed. (for tankers, gas carriers and tank barges) and the BLU Code checklist (for bulk carriers).
Run the ISGOTT 6th Ed. & BLU Code Checklist in SeaReady
Open one dated record per port call: SeaReady filters ISGOTT Parts 1A–9 (or BLU Code Questions 1–21) for your exact vessel type, tracks timed repetitive rounds with countdown alerts, and saves a complete port-call history offline.
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Related guides
- SIRE 2.0 inspection checklistChapter by chapter: what the inspector looks at and the evidence to have ready.
- CDI inspection guideThe 10th edition report, gradings, the 14-day window and AEPS chapters.
- Gas carrier inspection guideLNG and LPG under SIRE 2.0: ESD, containment, boil-off and the crew questions.
- Ship bunkering & ECA fuel changeoverPre/during/post bunkering checks, MEPC.182(59) samples, BDNs and 0.10% ECA changeover.
- IBC Code chemical tanker & MARPOL Annex II guideIBC Code Ship Types 1/2/3, Ch. 14 PPE, § 15.13 inhibitors and MARPOL Annex II Cat X/Y/Z 75L stripping & prewash.