Overview
ISO 28701:2025 - Inland navigation and commercial shipping: Safety and sustainability management systems defines requirements and provides guidance for implementing a combined safety and sustainability management system for commercial shipping on inland waterways. Tailored to navigation on rivers, lakes and similar inland waterways, the standard applies to freight, cruise, ferry and passenger vessels longer than 24 m, and to land‑based operations that support ships. ISO 28701 is aligned with the ISM Code and can also be applied to sea‑going vessels when operating on inland waterways. The standard promotes risk‑based thinking and integration with existing environmental and safety management systems.
Key topics and requirements
Key technical topics covered by ISO 28701 include:
- Context of the organization: understanding internal/external factors and interested parties; defining scope and boundaries across the three sustainability dimensions (social, environmental, governance/economic).
- Leadership: top management commitment, safety and sustainability policy, emergency response and crisis management.
- Roles and responsibilities: designated persons ashore, the master’s responsibility on board, and arrangements for multiple ownership.
- Planning: actions to address risks and opportunities (social, environmental, economic), objectives (short‑ and long‑term), compliance obligations and change planning.
- Support: resources, competence, awareness, communication (internal/external) and documented information including ESG policy documentation.
- Operation: operational planning and control, navigation procedures and appliances, safety equipment, maintenance of hull and ship systems, procurement and management of change.
- Performance evaluation: monitoring, measurement, analysis, internal audit and management review.
- Improvement: continual improvement, nonconformity and corrective action processes.
Applications and users
ISO 28701 is intended for:
- Shipowners and operators of inland navigation vessels (vessels >24 m) - freight, passenger, ferry and cruise operators.
- Port authorities, inland waterway authorities and service providers supporting ship operations.
- Managers responsible for safety, environmental compliance, ESG reporting and operational resilience.
- Organizations seeking to align inland shipping operations with the ISM Code and to integrate safety with sustainability objectives.
Practical benefits include improved safety performance, clarified governance and responsibilities, better environmental risk management on inland waterways, and a structured approach to meet stakeholder and regulatory expectations.
Related standards
- Aligned with the ISM Code for ship safety management.
- Intended to integrate with other management systems (for example, existing environmental and occupational safety standards) rather than replace them.
Keywords: ISO 28701, inland navigation, safety and sustainability management system, inland waterways, commercial shipping, ISM Code, environmental management, risk-based thinking, maritime ESG.
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