As a reaction to an increasing concern with the decreasing of standards in shipping during the 1970s and 1980s the International Maritime Organization adopted the ISM Code, which became mandatory in 1998. This study revisits the ISM Code, firstly exploring the genesis of the code at the international level, and then its operationalization at the national and local level. Based on a three-step case study, the interplay between the essence of the ISM Code and praxis onboard is explored. The study explores the distortion and erosion of the essence of the ISM Code when implemented on the national level in Danish law (step one) and by two Danishbased companies (step two) and finally investigates the local effect of the code as it is displayed onboard (step three).The study is conducted as an applied socio-legal study; thus, it adopts both an internal (doctrinal) and an external (empirical) approach. It also combines the topdown and bottom-up perspective, consequently applying different methods to fit the content of the different levels examined, while maintaining a qualitative approach.The research design is inspired by the hermeneutic circle. The first circle (Part I the international level) explores the genesis of the ISM Code, aim to explore the causal explanation for and to determine the essence of the ISM Code. The ‘essence’ is constituted by the ‘principles’ that the regulators intended to be essential to achieve ‘the purpose’. With Santos’s cartographic metaphor as a theoretical analytical framework combined with legal dogmatic method, the first part concentrates on small-scale legality (the international level). The second circle (Part II) is related to medium-scale legality (the national/transnational level). Part II explore the operationalisation of the ISM Code as it is implemented in Danish law, applying legal dogmatic method, combined with analyses of written formal communication to identify the inter-legality that distort the principles when implemented at a national level (step one and two). The third circle (Part III) relates to large-scale legality, applying Goffman’s theoretical framework to analyse the micro level, that constitute the onboard praxis. Praxis is compared with legislation, v revealing a frontstage behaviour that is compliant with regulation and documented by checklists, while in fact praxis deviate, ‘to make it work’ the crew exhibits what Goffman denoted a backstage behaviour.The ISM Code introduces meta-regulation as a regulatory mechanism. Metaregulation is linked to Santos’s concept of globalization and governance matrix; the study applies Parker’s definition of meta-regulation and the triple loop to study the concept.The study identifies three principles that constitute the essence of the ISM Code; (1) to establish a genuine link between the company and the flag State; (2) to ensure that the company becomes responsible for the ship’s operation; and (3) to empower the master, ensuring her or his authority. The analyses proved that each of the three principals were distorted at respectively meso and micro level, and that even though the intent was to promote good ship management, in reality it has provided companies the opportunity strut in borrowed plumes. 

Som en reaktion på en voksende bekymring over faldende standarder i international skibsfart og voksende problemer med substandard skibe vedtog man i IMO den International kode for sikker skibsdrift (ISM-koden). Koden blev bindende for skibe i international fart fra 1998. 20 år senere er kodens virkning stadig genstand for debat, og sikkerhedsforskningen viser en tvetydighed i forhold til virkningerne. Dette studie genbesøger omstændighederne for tilblivelsen af koden for at bestemme den oprindelig intention med koden. Gennem et tretrins casestudie undersøges og bestemmes de forskydninger og den udhuling der sker af kodens essens. Først i Dansk lov og administration, derefter i to danske rederier, for til sidst at studere den effekt som koden har på besætningens adfærd ombord.Studiet gennemføres som et ”applied” retssociologisk studie. Der anlægges således både et internt (dogmatisk) og et ekstern (empirisk) perspektiv på retten. Desuden gennemføres der analyser både fra et top-down og bottom-up perspektiv. Forskningsdesignet er inspireret af den hermeneutiske cirkel. Den første cirkel (Del I det internationale niveau) udforsker tilblivelsen af ISM-koden for at bestemme essensen af ISM-koden. Med Santos’ kartografiske metafor som teoretisk ramme for analysen kombineret med juridisk dogmatisk metode, undersøger del 1 tilblivelsen og identificere de principper som ISM-koden bygger på og som sammen udgør essensen af kode. Disse principper er udgangspunkt for del II som udforsker operationaliseringen af koden på et nationalt/tværnationalt niveau. Den sidste del af undersøgelsen og den tredje cirkel vedrører praksis ombord, Goffmans teoretiske ramme anvendes til at analysere mikroniveauet, og bestemme hvordan praksis er influeret af ISM Koden.Gennem analyser identificeres den eksisterende inter-legalitet og den betydning og indflydelse som denne har på kodens virkning. Gennem ISM-koden er metaregulering introduceret i det maritime felt, en regulerings mekanisme der afspejler den neoliberale globaliserings styreform. Parker’s teoretisk ramme for Metaregulering og triple-loop danner basis for forståelsen af ISM-koden som vii regulerings mekanisme. På mikro niveau anvendes Goffman’s teorier om interaktion og adfærd baseret på den antagelse at skibet er en totalinstitution. Studiets analyser af tilblivelsen af ISM-koden identificer tre principper; (1) at sikre en ægte forbindelse mellem rederi og flagstat; (2) at sikre at rederiet tager ansvar for skibets sikre drift; og (3) at sikre skibsførerens autoritet og beslutningskompetence. Analyser gennemført på meso og mikro niveau viser, at hver af de tre principper forskydes og udhules.