IHM software should do one job clearly: help the operator keep the Inventory of Hazardous Materials current, evidenced, and ready for review. For an operating vessel, that means the maintained Part I record, the documents behind each material change, and the certificate dates that determine when the next survey pressure arrives.
The risk is not usually that the vessel team does not know what an IHM is. The risk is that the record and evidence drift apart over time.
Quick answer
IHM software for vessel operators should maintain the live Inventory of Hazardous Materials record, not just store the last PDF. The useful system links Part I changes to supplier evidence, tracks certificate and survey dates, records who changed what, and exports proof when class, flag, PSC, or management asks.
What the software needs to hold
For day-to-day operation, the centre of gravity is Part I: hazardous materials in the vessel structure and equipment. A useful system should hold:
- The current Part I inventory
- Change records for refits, replacements, and controlled material updates
- Supplier Material Declarations and SDoC evidence
- Certificates and survey dates
- An audit trail of who changed what and when
- Survey-ready exports for class, flag, PSC, or management review
Parts II and III matter at recycling preparation, and supporting SDS/stores/waste records should stay organised. But the operational maintenance loop is Part I plus evidence.
The workflow that matters
Good IHM software is not just a document library. The workflow should follow the way material changes happen:
- Work happens on board or in the yard.
- The vessel records what changed.
- The supplier or contractor provides MD/SDoC evidence.
- The evidence is attached to the change.
- The record remains available for the next review.
If the software does not connect the change and the evidence, it is only another folder.
Practical operator checklist
| Question | Good software should show |
|---|---|
| What is onboard now? | Current Part I record by vessel. |
| What changed? | Change log with dates, locations, and responsible users. |
| Where is the evidence? | MD/SDoC/SDS attached to the relevant item or change. |
| What is overdue? | Open supplier requests, evidence gaps, and certificate dates. |
| What can we give a reviewer? | Survey-ready export with record and supporting proof. |
Common operator mistakes
Avoid systems where:
- Supplier declarations sit in email, separate from the inventory
- Certificate dates live in a spreadsheet calendar
- Each vessel uses a different folder structure
- Only one person knows where the latest export lives
- Survey preparation means rebuilding the pack manually
Those are not software problems in the abstract. They are the exact gaps that appear when a reviewer asks for the current record and the proof behind it.
The operator test
A vessel operator should be able to answer four questions quickly:
- What is the current Part I state?
- What changed since the last survey?
- Where is the MD/SDoC evidence for each change?
- When is the next certificate or survey action due?
If the answer requires searching inboxes, shared drives, and old PDFs, the process is too fragile.
Related reading:
Operate the IHM record from one workspace.
MANTIS is IHM software for vessel operators. It keeps Part I records, supplier evidence, certificates, audit trail, and survey-ready exports in one workspace.
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