Safe Manning Document

The Minimum Safe Manning Document (MSMD) is the flag-issued certificate stating the minimum number and grades of crew a ship must carry to operate safely. SOLAS V/14 requires every ship to be sufficiently and efficiently manned and obliges administrations to establish appropriate safe manning and issue the document. The administration applies the Principles of Safe Manning in IMO Assembly resolution A.1047(27), which superseded A.890(21). The document is kept on board, posted, and checked at port state control; a shortfall against it can detain the ship. It interacts with STCW watchkeeping and hours-of-rest limits and with the master’s authority under V/34-1.