"To understand how OCIMF can best use this complex and still developing subject OCIMF is in the process of arranging a two-day working session."
Director’s log
January has been a month of laying the groundwork for the year ahead as we prepare for the upcoming committee meetings and Regional Panels (see dates for your diary below).
In August 2015 representatives from the OCIMF Secretariat and our members met with a similar group from INTERTANKO at their offices in London. With continuous improvement of safety in mind, we were tasked by the Executive Committee (ExCom) to look at the possibility of forming a joint working group looking at:
- Human factors/ behavioural safety.
- Learning from incidents.
- Optimising audits.
The joint working group is being reconvened in April to commence its work.
ExCom 76 approved a request from the General Purpose Committee (GPC) to form a focus group on the Human Element. The Human Element is a vast area of study and one that many have grappled with. Peter Cardy, the then Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), said on the launch of The Human Element: A Guide to Human Behaviour in the Shipping Industry, “We know standards and inspections alone will not create a flourishing safety culture. We also need understanding of the source of safety – human behaviour”.
To understand how OCIMF can best use this complex and still developing subject OCIMF is in the process of arranging a two-day working session. Day one will invite external experts to help us understand the scope of the subject and day two will be for members only, and will look at where OCIMF can best focus its efforts to improve the safety of our industry and the seafarers who work in it.
Stay safe,
Andrew Cassels
Director OCIMF
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Mooring discussion at IMO SDC 3 meeting
There were detailed discussions about mooring operations at the third Ship Design and Construction (SDC3) sub-committee meeting at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on 18-22 January.
This followed discussions on mooring design at the 95th Maritime Safety Committee (MSC95), regarding potential amendments to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
A paper containing suggested SOLAS amendments and guidelines was co-sponsored by a number of EU countries. Japan introduced a paper to consider the maintenance requirements of mooring lines. The Japanese paper recognised that maintenance requirements are already covered under International Safety Management (ISM) but that some further guidance may be useful.
OCIMF also submitted and introduced two papers (one substantive and one for information – IMO papers SDC/3/15/2 and SDC Inf.5), in order to highlight the complexity of the subject, to raise concerns and to offer assistance going forward. The OCIMF papers were well received and achieved its objective with the result of ensuring an IMO Correspondence Group to meet intercessional to develop this subject further and by being invited to be instrumental in developing the terms of references for this group.
The Correspondence Group will report back to SDC 4 in the first quarter of 2017.
Photograph © IMO
Ballast Water Management
In the fourth quarter of 2015, several additional countries ratified the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, with Indonesia being the most significant, as having the largest tonnage on their registry.
The BWM Convention will come into force when 35% of the world’s tonnage ratify it and there were rumours that the 35% trigger had been met. After detailed recalculations, it was agreed that just over 34.5% had, so there is still no definitive timeline for entry into force of this convention. However, with several other countries rumoured to be close to ratification we expect to see 35% reached fairly quickly.
There are still many practical hurdles to be overcome, such as type test approved systems (particularly from the USA) and the consistent methods of testing around the world dealing with test methods and ambient conditions (temp/time etc.). But it is clear that the BWM Convention is looming, and there is a keen urgency to be able to deliver an effective system.
MTSC February
The first Marine Technical Sub Committee (MTSC) meeting of 2016 will be held 16-18 February in Houston.
MTSC is off to a busy start and is expecting a busy year. The event will be hosted by BG and has a full agenda discussing the progress of upcoming information papers. In addition MTSC will discuss varying technical topics including the technology available for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and drones for various tasks, including tank inspections.
MTSC is working on developing a Critical Spares Process information paper. The paper will provide guidance for ship operators and Terminal Management and Self-Assessment (TMSA) auditors as a useful tool to ensure consistency across the industry, provided that they are not prescriptive and do not take the accountability away from the ship operator to carry out the appropriate due diligence when assessing critical systems.
The information paper will not identify or recommend any particular critical spare parts for any vessel or vessel type – the paper will only provide guidance on a selection process.
The MTSC is the technical body of OCIMF that supports three committees GPC, PTC and OMC, with principle reporting to GPC.
MTIS MTPQ needs you!
To reduce the administrative burden of populating Terminal information in the Marine Terminal Information System (MTIS), OCIMF is trailing a project where Terminal Operators can send copies of their Terminal Handbook or Manual in any electronic format to be converted into the Marine Terminals Particular Database (MTPQ).
This initiative is aimed at encouraging participation of terminals who currently have terminal information in handbooks or Terminal manuals, but do not have resources available to transfer this information and populate the MTPQ database.
OCIMF is trying to remove impediments for completing MTIS and is making this feature available to member company terminals and joint venture terminals at no additional cost because it would take 20 years to populate all terminals in MTIS at the current rate of progress.
Terminal Operators in turn will benefit by a substantial reduction in the burden of entering the data into MTIS themselves AND from responding to a large number of queries and requests regarding the technical capabilities of their berths and terminals. This will also help reduce the potential for disputes over incorrectly circulated terminal interface information.
Please do not delay, and approach your Terminal Operator contacts today!
Members are requested to send their Terminal data manuals, or appropriate documentation, to:
OCIMF will reply soonest with a draft MTPQ submission correctly formatted, for review and approval, and when approved will then upload into the MTIS.
This is a great opportunity for you to help make a substantial improvement to the MTIS system and increase the range of accurate and confirmed data to make ships’ visits to marine terminals safer and more efficient.
Thank you.
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Regulation of EU emissions Directive
OCIMF remains engaged and continues to participate in the discussions taking place at the European Commission (EC) in Brussels, Belgium.
OCIMF continues to display support for the directive which aims to track CO2 emissions from vessels entering the European waters.
However, OCIMF continues to aim for a single global system, which is robust and reduces the administrative burden. OCIMF continues to have positive engagements with industry participants and the EC while attending these meetings. OCIMF will continue to monitor developments and will assist in providing clarity to the membership when the MRV is finalised.
Cyber Security
In November 2014’s newsletter we highlighted the emerging interest in maritime cyber security by promoting the publication by the UK Chamber of Shipping, A Master’s Guide to Cyber Security.
The aim was promoting resilience in preventing a cyber-attack on a vessel or offshore infrastructure. Cyber security has become a hot topic.
A new publication on the subject has be put together by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO. The Cyber Security Guidelines for Ships may be of interest and is available to download:bimco.org/News/2016/01/04_Cyber_security_guidelines.aspx
Somali Piracy
At a time when the existing mandates for naval operations in the Indian Ocean are being reviewed OCIMFs Chairman and Director have been ensuring the concerns of industry are known.
In considering the continuation of a naval presence, OCIMF has stressed the following criteria:
- International navies must be sufficient in number to continue to act as a viable deterrent in the region.
- They must have the capacity to respond to a merchant vessel under attack and therefore be stationed in the region.
- The fight against piracy must remain the primary task.
Beyond naval presence, OCIMF has urged both NATO and the EU to sustain broader cooperation, notably on surveillance, information sharing with industry and the legal framework. International developmental efforts on-land, in order to provide alternatives to the livelihood of pirates, must also be sustained.
As an industry we must continue to play our part by remaining fully committed to the implementation and dissemination of Best Management Practices.
Upcoming Regional Panels
| 10 March 2016 | Asia Pacific Regional Panel (APRP 5) | Singapore |
| 7 April 2016 | Middle Eastern and African Regional Panel (MEARP 6) | Dubai |
| 28 April 2016 | Americas Regional Panel (ARP 5) | Houston |
| 16 June 2016 | European Regional Panel (ERP 5) | London |
IMO Programme 2016
| 18 January 2016 | SDC 3 – Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction |
| 1 February 2016 | HTW 3 – Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping |
| 15 February 2016 | PPR 3 – Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response |
| 29 February 2016 | NCSR 3 – Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue |
| 14 March 2016 | SSE 3 – Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment |
| 4 April 2016 | FAL 40 – Facilitation Committee |
| 18 April 2016 | MEPC 69 – Marine Environment Protection Committee |
| 11 May 2016 | MSC 96 – Maritime Safety Committee |
| 6 June 2016 | LEG 103 – Legal Committee |
| 4 July 2016 | C 116 – Council |
| 18 July 2016 | III 3 – Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments |
| 5 September 2016 | CCC 3 – Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers |
| 15 September 2016 | LP-CG 9 – LP Compliance Group |
| 19 September 2016 | LC 38 – Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties (London Convention 1972) 11TH Meeting of Contracting Parties (London Protocol 1996) |
| 3 October 2016 | TC 66 – Technical Cooperation Committee |
| 24 October 2016 | MEPC 70 – Marine Environment Protection Committee |
| 21 November 2016 | MSC 97 – Maritime Safety Committee |
| 5 December 2016 | C 117 - Council |
Photograph © IMO
OCIMF.COM is now OCIMF.org
OCIMF has been experiencing some technical difficulties with its ocimf.com domain.
This has resulted in delays or non-receipt of some emails sent to OCIMF on 25-26 November 2015. The emails affected are only those ending ocimf.com. As there is the possibility that this technical issue may recur the move to the ocimf.org domain has been brought forward. From now on all OCIMF emails ending ocimf.com should be amended to ocimf.org.
For example:-
While the ocimf.com domain will continue to operate in parallel to the ocimf.org for at least the next 12 months, users are strongly encouraged to use the ocimf.org domain. OCIMF apologies for any inconvenience caused.