Reporting line

A reporting line is the defined chain of responsibility set out in the company safety management system, naming who each person reports to ashore and on board and through whom safety and pollution matters travel. ISM Code Element 3 requires the company to define and document the responsibility, authority, and interrelation of all personnel who manage, perform, and verify safety and pollution work, and Element 4 requires a designated person ashore with direct access to the highest level of management. The reporting line ensures the master and crew can reach the DPA without an intervening filter on safety issues. Internal audits check that the documented lines match practice, and a blurred or bypassed reporting line is a common ISM nonconformity.