The paper presents the main causes of the sea accidents and disasters, which call for the implementation of a sea pollution and safety management system (SMS) in the navigation companies, for certification purposes, in compliance with the International Management Code for the safe vessel operation and pollution prevention (ISM). For this purpose the objectives of the ISM codes are presented and which are to be found in the implemented Management System.

From the main causes of the safety deficiencies in vessel operation, by applying the cause-effect method, it was found necessary to implement a sea pollution and safety management system in the navigation companies able to provide more safety in ship operation , an implementation in the absence of which the international traffic would no longer be possible. Thus the basic SMS implementation stages have been established taking into account the related international legislation.