ISM lessons from Bourbon Dolphin

Abstract

On 12 April 2007 the Bourbon Dolphin, a Norwegian anchor-handler, capsized 75 miles off the coast of Scotland. She sank three days later, claiming eight of the 15 lives onboard. That this could happen at a time when a 'safety culture' is at the forefront of the minds of the maritime community raises serious concerns about the ability of the ISM Code to provide its mandatory global standard of safe management and operation of ships.