Discover the top 12 types of data available on IMO’s GISIS platform, with clear examples to help students, seafarers, and maritime professionals use it effectively.
For many maritime students and professionals, the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) feels like a huge ocean of data—deep, powerful, and sometimes difficult to navigate. Yet, beneath its surface lies one of the most comprehensive maritime databases in the world.
Whether you are studying naval architecture, preparing for maritime exams, writing a research paper, or working in ship operations, GISIS offers an unparalleled look into how the global shipping industry functions. From casualty investigations to port reception facilities, from pollution prevention to STCW implementation reports, the system contains the world’s official maritime data submitted directly by IMO Member States.
This article explores the top 12 types of data you can find on GISIS—not only describing each module but giving practical examples, real applications, and guidance on how maritime students and professionals can use these datasets to make informed decisions.
Why Understanding GISIS Matters for Maritime Operations
In modern shipping, information is power—and GISIS is one of the most authoritative sources of maritime information globally. Understanding how to use its data is an essential skill for the next generation of maritime professionals.
GISIS matters for at least four major reasons:
First, it enhances regulatory compliance, because GISIS contains official submissions linked to IMO treaties including MARPOL, SOLAS, STCW, London Convention & Protocol, and many others. Officers, superintendents, port officials, and maritime administrators can use GISIS to cross-check requirements and implementation timelines for Member States.
Second, GISIS improves transparency and safety. Casualty investigation reports, for instance, help maritime academies and shipping companies learn from past accidents. These reports reveal human-factor issues, equipment failures, and procedural lapses—critical insights for bridge teams, engineers, auditors, and safety managers.
Third, GISIS supports environmental accountability. Its pollution incident reports, port reception facility data, and ballast water management submissions help researchers and regulators identify hotspots and track emerging global trends in marine pollution.
Finally, GISIS builds global maritime governance. It connects port authorities, flag administrations, classification societies, and international regulators through a shared knowledge base. For students preparing to enter the maritime sector, skillful use of GISIS demonstrates professionalism and an understanding of how the industry functions behind the scenes.
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Top 12 Types of Data You Can Find on GISIS (With Examples)
Below are the 12 most important GISIS modules, explained clearly and with practical applications for shipping companies, students, and educators.
1. IMO Member State Profiles
Each IMO Member State has a detailed profile in GISIS, providing key information such as contact points for its maritime administration, legislative frameworks, STCW implementation reports, ratification status of IMO conventions, and recognised organisations (e.g., classification societies). These profiles offer a clear view of a State’s regulatory strength and global engagement, helping stakeholders—from cadets to port state control officers—verify credentials, endorsements, and compliance efficiently. Every IMO Member State has a dedicated profile that includes:
- Contact points for maritime administration
- Legislative frameworks
- STCW implementation reports
- Ratification status of IMO conventions
- Recognised organisations (e.g., DNV, LR, ABS, ClassNK, RINA)
These profiles help users understand the regulatory strength, capacity, and global engagement of a particular State.
Practical Example
A cadet applying for a flag-state endorsement can check GISIS to confirm whether their country recognises a specific maritime training institution or simulator model.
A superintendent preparing a PSC risk analysis can verify whether the ship’s flag State is compliant with MARPOL Annex VI requirements or has submitted required IMO data.
2. Marine Casualties and Incidents
GISIS serves as a vital global repository for maritime accident data, featuring narrative summaries, investigation reports, contributing factors, consequences, and IMO causal factor coding. This module supports accident-prevention strategies and is widely used by maritime training institutions and researchers to analyse trends, teach lessons learned, and compare data with national investigation bodies like the MAIB or NTSB. GISIS houses one of the world’s most important repositories of maritime accident data. It includes:
- Narrative summaries
- Investigation reports
- Contributing factors
- Consequences (injuries, pollution, structural damage)
- IMO causal factor coding
This module supports accident-prevention strategies and is widely used in MET institutions.
Practical Example
A maritime academy may analyse oil tanker collisions over the last five years to teach students the impact of:
- Poor situational awareness
- Fatriage
- Equipment failure
- Improper application of COLREGs
Researchers often compare GISIS casualty data with MAIB, NTSB Marine, TSB Canada, or AMSA reports to detect global patterns.
3. Port Reception Facilities (PRF)
Under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V, and VI, ports must provide adequate waste reception facilities. GISIS offers a port-by-port breakdown covering waste categories, capacity, operating hours, contact details, and restrictions. This enables ships’ Environmental Officers to plan for compliant waste disposal, update Garbage Management Plans, and avoid port state control deficiencies during voyages. Under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V, and VI, every port must provide adequate waste reception facilities. GISIS provides a port-by-port breakdown including:
- Available waste categories
- Capacity
- Operating hours
- Contact details
- Facility restrictions
Practical Example
A ship’s Environmental Officer planning a voyage to the Mediterranean checks GISIS to see if a Greek port can receive:
- Oily residues (Annex I)
- Plastics and general garbage (Annex V)
- Sewage (Annex IV)
- Exhaust-gas cleaning residues
This allows the company to prepare a compliant Garbage Management Plan and avoid PSC deficiencies.
4. Contact Points for Reporting Pollution or Safety Incidents
GISIS maintains updated global contact points for authorities handling search and rescue (SAR), port state control, oil pollution reporting, and maritime security (ISPS Code). In the event of an incident—such as a minor bunker spill—ship officers can quickly identify the correct reporting authority, ensuring timely response and compliance with local regulations. GISIS maintains updated contact points for:
- Search and rescue (SAR) authorities
- Port State Control agencies
- Oil pollution reporting centres
- Maritime security focal points (ISPS Code)
Practical Example
When a vessel experiences a minor bunker spill in a West African port, the chief officer can immediately find the correct reporting authority and avoid delays that may worsen the environmental impact or violate local law.
5. Ballast Water Management (BWM) Submissions
This module contains ballast water compliance data, approved BWMS systems, port state control inspection records, and reporting formats for harmful aquatic species. Researchers use it to assess invasive species risks, while ship managers verify system approvals to ensure compliance with international and regional regulations like EU MRV or FuelEU Maritime audits. This module includes:
- Ballast water compliance data
- Approved BWMS systems
- Port State Control inspections
- Reporting formats for harmful aquatic species
Researchers use the data to map where invasive species risks are highest.
Practical Example
A ship manager preparing documentation for FuelEU Maritime and EU MRV sustainability audits may cross-check whether a vessel’s BWMS model is IMO-approved and listed on GISIS. This ensures compliance with port-state ballast water inspection regimes.
6. MARPOL Annex VI (Air Pollution) Compliance Data
GISIS stores State-submitted information on sulphur-cap enforcement, Emission Control Area (ECA) boundaries, fuel testing laboratories, scrubber restrictions, and NOx Technical Code compliance. Ships’ masters can consult this data before entering strict ports—such as Singapore or those in China—to verify local fuel requirements and avoid detentions. GISIS contains State-submitted data on:
- Sulphur-cap enforcement
- ECA boundaries
- Fuel testing laboratories
- Scrubber uptake and restrictions
- NOx Technical Code compliance
Practical Example
Before entering a port such as Singapore, China, or Turkey—regions known for strict sulphur inspections—the vessel’s master can review:
- Local sulphur limits
- Scrubber discharge restrictions
- History of non-compliance in neighbouring ports
This helps avoid fuel-quality disputes and detentions.
7. STCW Implementation and White-List Information
This section details whether a country’s maritime training, certification, and watchkeeping standards align with the STCW Convention. It includes recognition of foreign certificates, approved training centres, simulator models, and national examination structures. Cadets and employers use it to verify the validity and international recognition of Certificates of Competency. GISIS provides information about whether maritime training, certification, and watchkeeping standards in a country comply with the STCW Convention. This includes:
- Recognition of foreign certificates
- Approved training centres
- Simulator models and assessment systems
- National examination structures
Practical Example
A cadet planning to work for a major European shipping company checks if their national CoC is recognised in the EU. Employers also use STCW GISIS data to verify crew-document authenticity.
8. Piracy and Armed Robbery Reports
GISIS collates detailed incident reports on piracy and armed robbery, covering location, attack methods, weapons used, damage, crew injuries, and regional patterns. Shipping companies use this information when planning transits through high-risk areas—like the Gulf of Guinea—to adjust security measures, crew training, and adherence to BMP5 guidelines. GISIS includes incident reports describing:
- Location
- Attack method
- Weapons used
- Damage caused
- Crew injuries
- Regional patterns
Practical Example
When planning a transit through the Gulf of Guinea or the Singapore Strait, a company’s security officer checks recent piracy trends on GISIS. This influences:
- Crew training
- Watchkeeping levels
- BMP5 implementation
- Use of citadels or naval escorts
9. Ship Recycling (Hong Kong Convention) Data
This module tracks ship recycling facilities, their certification status, Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) reports, and national regulations. Shipowners seeking to recycle vessels can identify compliant yards in countries such as India, Türkiye, or Bangladesh, ensuring adherence to international environmental and safety standards. GISIS tracks:
- Ship recycling facilities
- Certification status
- Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) reports
- National regulations
Practical Example
A tanker owner looking to recycle a 25-year-old vessel checks GISIS to identify yards in India, Türkiye, or Bangladesh that are certified and compliant with international standards.
10. Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) Data
GISIS provides data on oil spill notifications, hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incidents, port readiness for chemical spills, and historical pollution trends. Researchers and environmental consultants use this information to analyse pollution hotspots, support academic studies, and model environmental risks in regions like the Mediterranean. GISIS provides:
- Oil spill notifications
- Hazardous & Noxious Substances (HNS) incidents
- Port readiness for chemical spills
- Historical pollution-trend data
Practical Example
A researcher examining Mediterranean pollution hotspots can filter GISIS HNS spill reports by year, country, or cargo type. This supports academic publications and environmental modelling.
11. London Convention & Protocol (Dumping at Sea)
Information on permits issued for dumping at sea, dredged material disposal, compliance assessments, and monitoring activities is stored here. Environmental consultants planning port-expansion projects can check approved offshore dumping sites and restrictions to ensure international legal compliance. GISIS stores information on:
- Permits issued for dumping
- Dredged material disposal
- Compliance assessments
- Monitoring activities
Practical Example
An environmental consultant working on port-expansion dredging investigates which sites have approved offshore dumping permits and what restrictions apply. This ensures the project complies with international law.
12. GISIS Global Maritime Statistics (Cross-Module Data)
GISIS compiles aggregate datasets across modules to reveal trends such as annual casualty reports, sulphur-cap enforcement levels, ballast water management compliance, recycling capacity, and global port reception facility availability. These statistics support analysis, policy-making, and operational planning across the maritime industry. GISIS compiles aggregate datasets across different modules to provide insights such as:
- Number of reported casualties per year
- Trends in sulphur-cap enforcement
- BWM compliance levels
- Recycling capacity
- Global PRF availability
Practical Example
A maritime student writing a thesis on alternative-fuel adoption trends may extract GISIS MARPOL Annex VI submissions and compare them with DNV’s annual Maritime Forecast projections.
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Challenges and Practical Solutions When Using GISIS
1. Complex Navigation Structure
Many first-time users find GISIS complicated. Each module has its own hierarchy, filters, and access requirements.
Solution: Start with the “public modules” before moving to advanced treaty-specific datasets. IMO offers free training materials and user guides.
2. Inconsistent Reporting by States
Not all Member States submit the same quantity or quality of data. Some reports are outdated or incomplete.
Solution: Cross-verify GISIS data with:
Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, Equasis, MAIB, AMSA, USCG, and class society databases.
3. Limited Search Flexibility
Some modules don’t allow keyword searches or advanced filtering.
Solution: Export datasets (CSV/PDF where possible) and analyse them in Excel or Python.
4. Restricted Access for Sensitive Modules
Some sections require government-level credentials.
Solution: Students and researchers can request data access through their university or maritime institution.
Case Studies / Real-World Applications
Case Study 1: Reducing PSC Deficiencies with PRF Data
A tanker operator improved compliance by using GISIS PRF data to avoid ports lacking waste facilities, reducing Annex V deficiencies by 70%.
Case Study 2: Bridge Team Training Using Casualty Data
A maritime academy analysed hundreds of GISIS collision reports, discovering common human-factor issues and redesigning simulator exercises accordingly.
Case Study 3: Environmental Research Using BWM and PPR Data
A Baltic Sea study combined ballast water and pollution datasets to identify vulnerable marine ecosystems.
Future Outlook and Maritime Trends
1. AI-Based Maritime Risk Detection
Class societies such as DNV and LR are integrating AI to analyse casualty and compliance behaviour. GISIS will likely expand in this direction.
2. Integration with MASS and e-Navigation
As autonomous ships grow, GISIS may include certification records, digital navigation audits, and remote-operation incident reports.
3. Climate Data and Emissions Monitoring
Future GISIS updates may integrate data from:
- EU ETS shipping
- FuelEU Maritime
- CII performance
- Global emissions datasets
This supports IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy.
4. Greater Transparency for Public Access
The IMO is expected to make more GISIS datasets public, especially on safety and environmental protection.
FAQ Section
1) Is GISIS free?
Yes, most modules are publicly accessible; a few require restricted access.
2) Who updates GISIS?
IMO Member States, port authorities, coast guards, and recognised organisations (ROs).
3) Can students cite GISIS in academic work?
Yes. Academic journals recognise GISIS as an authoritative source.
4) What modules are most useful for seafarers?
PRF data, pollution reporting contacts, casualty investigations, and air-emission compliance.
5) Is GISIS updated in real time?
No. Updates depend on national reporting frequency.
6) Is GISIS similar to Equasis?
They complement each other: GISIS focuses on IMO regulatory implementation, Equasis on ship particulars and PSC inspections.
7) Can GISIS help in voyage planning?
Yes—especially for PRF availability, pollution reporting contacts, and sulphur restrictions.
Conclusion
GISIS is one of the most powerful maritime information platforms in the world, yet it remains underused, especially by students and early-career officers. Its datasets—ranging from casualty analysis to ballast water reports and sulphur compliance—offer deep insights into how the global maritime system operates.
By learning to navigate GISIS effectively, maritime professionals can improve safety, prepare for new environmental rules, support academic research, and contribute to global transparency. Whether planning a voyage, analysing pollution risks, or studying STCW implementation, GISIS remains an indispensable tool.
References
International Maritime Organization (IMO). https://gisis.imo.org
IMO STCW Convention & Code. https://www.imo.org
IMO MARPOL Overview. https://www.imo.org
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). https://www.ics-shipping.org
DNV Maritime. https://www.dnv.com
Lloyd’s Register. https://www.lr.org
Bureau Veritas. https://marine.bureauveritas.com
ClassNK. https://www.classnk.or.jp
RINA. https://www.rina.org
EMSA. https://emsa.europa.eu
AMSA. https://www.amsa.gov.au
MCA. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency
MAIB. https://www.gov.uk/maib
UNCTAD Maritime Statistics. https://unctad.org
World Bank Maritime Transport. https://www.worldbank.org