ISGOTT — the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals — is the industry-standard practical reference for safe cargo operations, gas testing, and hot work procedures on oil tankers and at the terminals they call at.
Who Publishes It
ISGOTT is jointly published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) — representing shipowners, oil majors, and port authorities together, which is part of why it’s treated as genuinely authoritative across the industry rather than just one party’s guidance.
What It Covers
- Gas testing and atmosphere management in cargo tanks and enclosed spaces
- Safe cargo operations — loading, discharging, tank cleaning, ballasting on tankers
- Hot work procedures specific to the tanker environment
- Ship/shore safety checklists used jointly by vessel and terminal before cargo operations begin
- Static electricity hazards and precautions specific to petroleum cargo handling
Why ISGOTT Matters Beyond Being “Just a Guide”
While not itself an international convention with the legal force of SOLAS or MARPOL, ISGOTT is treated as the practical operating standard across the tanker industry — vetting inspections (SIRE) and terminal safety procedures are built directly around ISGOTT guidance, making genuine familiarity with it a practical necessity for tanker officers, not optional reference material.
Exam Relevance
ISGOTT’s role, scope, and its practical application to tanker cargo operations are core Tanker Operations topics in deck and engineering officer competency exams, particularly for those pursuing tanker endorsements.