A Planned Maintenance System (PMS) is a structured schedule of preventive maintenance tasks for all vessel systems, required under ISM Code for commercial vessels. It documents what maintenance is due, when, and tracks completion history to prove compliance during PSC inspections.
A PMS defines scheduled maintenance intervals for every major system onboard: main engines, generators, steering, electrical, safety equipment, hull, and rigging.
ISM requirement: commercial vessels must maintain a documented PMS aligned with manufacturer recommendations and classification society requirements. Completion records with dates and signatures are mandatory.
Key components: equipment registry (all critical systems with manufacturer specs and warranty status), maintenance schedules (intervals by engine hours or calendar time), work records (who did the work, parts used, next service due), and defect reporting (how outstanding items are tracked and escalated).
For non-ISM yachts: a PMS is not legally required but is strongly recommended. Insurance policies may require evidence of systematic maintenance. A documented service history significantly affects resale value.
Practical implementation: paper systems technically comply with ISM requirements but are difficult to audit and search. Digital systems allow instant reporting of service history, automatic reminders, and photo attachment for parts evidence. PSC inspectors increasingly expect organized, searchable records.
The most common gap: maintenance log exists but lacks photographic evidence of replaced parts, making it difficult to prove work was completed rather than recorded retroactively.
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