WHAT IS ISO 28701?
ISO 28701 addresses the distinct safety and sustainability needs of inland commercial shipping.
A shipping organization headquartered in Dubai or another UAE emirate may operate eligible routes abroad or manage supporting activities from the UAE. Before requesting ISO 28701 certification, the company should describe where its vessels actually navigate, which legal entities control them and how shore teams support safety and sustainability. These details shape a realistic scope and any subsequent independent evaluation.
Whether the operator already has a safety management system or is establishing one, its arrangements should work for crews, dispatchers and managers during normal voyages and unexpected events. Changes in weather, channel restrictions, passenger numbers, cargo types, contractors or vessel availability can expose weaknesses that ordinary office-based documents may overlook.
ISO 28701:2025 is the first and current edition, published on 19 August 2025. It addresses safety and sustainability management for commercial freight, cruise, ferry and passenger vessels longer than 24 metres on inland waterways, including relevant shore-based support. ISO states that it also applies to sea-going vessels while navigating inland waterways.