General Safety Duties (GSD)

Question 1

1. In addition to the General Safety Duties required of Owners, Masters, Crew and Passengers, what other areas of vessel operation do GSD’s relate to?

Answer 1

They relate to the design, construction, manufacture, repairs and modifications required by designers, builders and suppliers.

Question 2

2. Who are included as other persons?

Answer 2

There are GSD’s on
1. Vessel designers, builders, and suppliers
2. Designers, builders and suppliers must ensure that work carried out for maintenance and construction complies with the safety requirements.
3. That the equipment supplied is appropriate and safe for the design and purpose of the vessel.

Question 3

3. What are the purposes of having GSD’s?

Answer 3

They are designed to encourage the development, maintenance and continuous safety culture by everyone involved in the operation of a domestic commercial vessel.

Question 4

4. What are the GSD ‘s on vessel crew?

Answer 4

Crew must
1. Take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others.
2. Comply with lawful directions of the Master.
3. Not unreasonably place persons at risk in carrying out their duties nor misuse or interfere with the vessel’s safety.

Question 5

5. What are the GSD’s on passengers?

Answer 5

All passengers must:
1. Take reasonable care for their own safety.
2. Follow crew instructions.
3. Must ensure that they do not interfere with any equipment or prevent the master or crew from implementing safety requirements on board the vessel.
4. A passenger on board a domestic commercial vessel must not place at risk the safety of another person, or the safety of a domestic commercial vessel.

Question 6

6. What are the GSD’s on vessel Masters?

Answer 6

Masters of vessels must
1. Make sure that they implement the safety management system and that the vessel itself, its operations and its equipment meet the safety requirements.
3. Masters have a specific obligation to take reasonable care of all persons on their vessel and not unreasonably place people at risk.

Question 7

7. What are the GSD’s on vessel owners?

Answer 7

Owners must
1. Carry out proper maintenance procedures.
2. Develop and implement a safety management system that is appropriate to the size and nature of the vessel operations
3. Ensure that all crew and people on board are provided with information, instruction or training on their safety obligations.

Question 8

8. What GSD’s are there on other persons?

Answer 8

There is also a GSD covering other people who may not be on the vessel but
1. Whose actions may cause the loss, destruction of serious damage to a commercial vessel
3. Endanger the safety of a domestic commercial vessel or
3. Place at risk the safety of persons on board.