Best Practices from the OCIMF
OCIMF releases new information paper on best practices for conducting navigational assessments
OCIMF has today released a new information paper on best practices for conducting navigational assessments, called A Guide to Best Practice for Navigational Assessments and Audits.
Navigational assessments and audits help vessel owners, operators and Masters to identify areas for improvement and increase safety. They also assure companies that high standards of navigation and watchkeeping are being maintained.
While a wide range of navigational assessments are used in the industry, there is no common standard, and a lack of available guidance means that audits and assessments can vary in quality.
This information paper gives guidance on how to conduct a good navigational assessment, including:
- How assessments should be designed.
- Why assessments are carried out.
- Who should carry out assessments.
- How an assessor should conduct assessments.
- How the results can be used to identify trends and training requirements.
The paper also features a full template that companies can use as a guide when developing their own navigational assessments. The paper is free to download from www.ocimf.org/publications/information-papers.aspx.
Additionally,
Marine Terminal Information Booklet: Guidelines and Recommendations released by OCIMF
A vessel’s arrival into port is a high-risk activity, but this risk can be reduced if there is easy access to accurate and up-to-date terminal, berth and port information.
OCIMF’s latest information paper, Marine Terminal Information Booklet: Guidelines and Recommendations, gives terminal operators a template for presenting important terminal and port information in a booklet, for easy reference by vessel personnel, vessel owners, operators, charterers and others.
Because this terminal information is crucial to overall ship/shore safety, OCIMF also recommends sharing information using the online Marine Terminal Information System (MTIS), available at www.ocimf.org/mtis.
The paper is free to download from www.ocimf.org/library/information-papers.aspx and replaces OCIMF’s previous paper, Port and Terminal Information (1 September 1997).
And another…
OCIMF releases Guidelines for Offshore Tanker Operations
The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has released a new book for the offshore industry. Guidelines for Offshore Tanker Operations provides guidance on equipment and procedures for mooring and transferring crude oil and other petroleum products between offshore terminals and offtake tankers, in particular F(P)SO and SPM buoy terminals and conventional and DP tankers.
“This new book is designed to promote compatibility and harmonisation between offshore terminals and offtake tankers so that cargo can be transferred safely”, explains OCIMF Director Rob Drysdale. “It should be essential reading for tanker technical operators, terminal operators, tanker- and terminal-based personnel, offshore project development teams, regulatory officials and anyone involved in these operations.”
With the publication of this new book, the following OCIMF books have been superseded and withdrawn:
- Offshore Loading Safety Guidelines with Special Relevance to Harsh Weather Zones.
- Tandem Mooring and Offloading Guidelines for Conventional Tankers at F(P)SO Facilities.
- Recommendations for Equipment Employed in the Bow Mooring of Conventional Tankers at Single Point Moorings.
This is the second book OCIMF has released for the offshore industry this year, following on from the release of Cargo Guidelines for F(P)SOs in July. Both books are available to buy from Witherby Publishing Group (www.witherbys.com).
The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies (the ‘members’) who have an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas. OCIMF’s mission is to be the foremost authority on the safe and environmentally responsible operation of oil tankers, terminals and offshore support vessels, promoting continuous improvement in standards of design and operation. ocimf.org.
