Maritime Documents
The conventions, codes, standard forms and free templates a compliance desk reaches for, each summarised in one line and linked to its official text or PDF.
This shelf holds the public instruments of shipping regulation and the working paper built on them: IMO conventions and their chapters, the ISM and ISPS codes, charterparty and sale forms, and the operational templates a ship needs on board. Every entry states what the document covers and where compliance with it is measured on The Maritime. The terms behind them are defined in the glossary and the dictionary.
IMO Conventions
8 documentsBallast Water Management Convention
Aims to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organisms from one region to another by establishing standards and procedures for the management and control of ships' ballast water and sediments.
Official source Official sourceCII - Carbon Intensity Indicator Guidelines
Guidelines for calculating the attained annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating.
Official source Official sourceCOLREGS - Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
Sets out the navigation rules to be followed by ships at sea to prevent collisions.
Official source Official sourceEEXI - Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index Technical File
Technical guidelines for the calculation of the attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) for ships of 400 GT and above.
Official source Official sourceHong Kong Convention - Ship Recycling
Aimed at ensuring that ships being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.
Official source Official sourceIMO GHG Strategy - Initial Strategy Overview
Overview of the IMO initial strategy to reduce GHG emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, with a vision to phase them out entirely.
Official source Official sourceLoad Lines Convention - International Convention on Load Lines
Ensures that ships have sufficient freeboard and adequate stability for safe operation.
Official source Official sourceSOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
The most important international treaty concerning the safety of merchant ships.
Official source Official source
SOLAS
5 documentsSOLAS Chapter II-2 - Fire Protection, Detection and Extinction
Detailed requirements for fire protection including structural fire protection, escape routes, fire detection systems, and fixed fire-extinguishing systems for various ship types.
Official source Official sourceSOLAS Chapter III - Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements
Requirements for lifeboats, liferafts, rescue boats, personal life-saving appliances, and survival craft.
Official source Official sourceSOLAS Chapter V - Safety of Navigation
Covers navigational equipment requirements including AIS, VDR, ECDIS, radar, and GMDSS.
Official source Official sourceSOLAS Chapter IX - Management for Safe Operation (ISM)
Makes the ISM Code mandatory, requiring companies and ships to establish and maintain a Safety Management System.
Official source Official sourceSOLAS Chapter XI-2 - Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Security
Makes the ISPS Code mandatory and includes special requirements for ship security.
Official source Official source
MARPOL
2 documentsMARPOL 73/78 - International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
The main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
Official source Official sourceMARPOL Annex VI - Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships
Sets limits on sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances.
Official source Official source
ISM Code
1 documentISM Code - International Safety Management Code
Provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.
Official source Official source
ISPS Code
1 documentISPS Code - International Ship and Port Facility Security Code
A set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.
Official source Official source
MLC
1 documentMLC 2006 - Maritime Labour Convention
The fourth pillar of the international maritime regulatory regime, setting out seafarers' rights to decent conditions of work.
Official source Official source
STCW
1 documentSTCW Convention - Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Sets qualification standards for masters, officers, and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships.
Official source Official source
Industry Guidelines
11 documentsBIMCO GENCON 2022 - Voyage Charterparty
Standard voyage charter party form for general dry cargo.
Official source Official sourceBIMCO NYPE 2015 - Time Charterparty
New York Produce Exchange form for time charters.
Official source Official sourceBIMCO SHIPMAN 2009 - Ship Management Agreement
Standard ship management agreement covering crew management, technical management, and commercial management between shipowners and ship managers.
Official source Official sourceCDI - Chemical Distribution Institute Inspection
Inspection framework for chemical tankers covering ship and terminal inspections.
Official source Official sourceEU ETS for Maritime Transport - Regulation Guide
Guide to the EU Emissions Trading System as applied to maritime transport from 2024.
Official source Official sourceFuelEU Maritime Regulation Summary
Summary of the FuelEU Maritime regulation requiring a progressive reduction in GHG intensity of energy used on board ships calling at EU ports from 2025.
Official source Official sourceICS - Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals)
Guidance on the safe carriage of chemicals in bulk, covering tank cleaning, cargo compatibility, and hazard management.
Official source Official sourceISGOTT - International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals
The definitive industry reference on the safe carriage of oil cargoes.
Official source Official sourceNorwegian Saleform 2012 (NSF 2012)
The standard memorandum of agreement for the sale and purchase of vessels.
Official source Official sourceOCIMF - SIRE 2.0 Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
The Ship Inspection Report Programme vessel inspection questionnaire used by oil majors and charterers to assess tanker safety, management, and operational standards.
Official source Official sourceOCIMF - TMSA 3 (Tanker Management Self Assessment)
Framework for tanker operators to measure and improve safety management and environmental performance.
Official source Official source
Forms & Templates
10 documentsBill of Lading - Standard Template
Standard ocean bill of lading template compliant with Hague-Visby Rules.
Crew Competency Matrix Template
Competency matrix for tracking seafarer qualifications, certificates, training, and experience against STCW requirements.
Dry Dock Specification Template
Dry-docking specification template covering hull repairs, machinery overhaul, tank coating, and class renewal requirements.
ISM Code - Safety Management System Template
SMS manual compliant with ISM Code requirements.
Near-Miss and Incident Report Form
Standard form for reporting near-miss events, accidents, and incidents on board as required by ISM Code Section 9.
Port State Control Checklist
Pre-arrival self-assessment checklist to prepare for Port State Control inspections, covering all common inspection areas and common deficiency categories.
Risk Assessment Matrix - Maritime Operations
Risk assessment template for maritime operations using 5x5 probability-consequence matrix.
Ship Security Plan (SSP) Template
Ship Security Plan as required by ISPS Code Part A.
SOPEP - Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan Template
Emergency plan for oil pollution as required by MARPOL Annex I Regulation 37.
Voyage Plan Template - ECDIS Navigation
Voyage planning checklist and passage plan format for ECDIS navigation.
About this library. Convention and code entries summarise the public instrument and link to the text on the issuing body's own site. Templates are published by The Maritime as free PDFs and are working documents, not legal advice.
Library last reviewed: September 2026.