The Ministerial Decree on Safe Manning Systems took effect on 1 February 2002. 
The basic principle of Chapter 2, section 1 of the Maritime Crews Act is that the ships' manager bears primary responsibility for safe and environmentally responsible sea passage. 
The ship's manager also bears responsibility for establishing the minimum safe manning requirement (explanation Maritime Crews Act). 
The ship's manager therefore has to submit a Minimum Safe Manning Proposal to the Inspectorate for Transport, Public Works and Water Management, which shall assess the feasibility of said plan within the context of statutory regulations with regard to the environment, safety and working hours.