"I would like to close by wishing you, your families, and all those at sea, best wishes for health and happiness in 2023!"
Director's Log
One year in and I can’t believe how fast it has gone. 2022 has flown by. It has been a busy year, filled with progress.
My aim is to develop and maintain a high-performance organisation that trusts its staff, verifies that commitments are completed as agreed, and embodies thought leadership through published and advocated best practice. Headway was made in 2022 as we:
- Integrated the refreshed strategy within our organisational goals.
- Enhanced committee engagement and developed a multiyear planning cycle to allow us to better schedule work and manage resources.
- Built a governance cycle to manage risk and build accountability.
- Progressed the SIRE 2.0 project, transitioning to a phased approach determined by critical success factors.
- Strengthened IT controls to tighten against cyber security threats.
- Continued to focus on our people through the OCIMF Culture Steering Committee.
As a highlight, we were able to travel again and took the opportunity to reconnect with members and stakeholders. In 2023 we will find the balance between face-to-face and virtual as we look forward to more regional engagements.
As we round out the year, I want to say thank you to the OCIMF staff and Secretariat. Each one of you adds significant value and has a positive impact on our performance. Thank you to our members for your work and expert contributions. Thank you to our inspector team for your dedication to our programmes around the world. Thank you to our industry partners for your shared work on several topics. Together we will continue to improve the safety of shipping.
I would like to close by wishing you, your families, and all those at sea, best wishes for health and happiness in 2023!
Karen Davis
Director OCIMF
INTERTANKO Tanker Summit
OCIMF was pleased to attend, present and engage in a question and answer session during INTERTANKO’s annual Tanker Summit held in Singapore on 24 November.
INTERTANKO has always been a close and important partner for OCIMF, particularly through the development and delivery of the SIRE 2.0 project. The Tanker Summit is an integral part of INTERTANKO’s Annual Tanker Event, which is now in its 24th edition after a two-year Covid-19-enforced break.
This was an opportunity for OCIMF to be joined on the podium by INTERTANKO, vessel operators and submitting member companies to present on SIRE 2.0 from different perspectives. In addition, the panel session gave space for those in attendance to pose questions to several different sectors of the industry, including submitting member companies and vessel operators, who brought first-hand experience in the SIRE 2.0 trial inspection programme.
OCIMF would like to thank INTERTANKO for the opportunity, as well as all those in attendance who asked excellent questions during this very engaging session.
For enquiries, contact Aaron Cooper, OCIMF Programmes Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
South and Central American barging industry visit
Ton Mol explains to barging company representatives from Argentina and Paraguay how barging fits into the structure of OCIMF.
OCIMF’s Barge Adviser Ton Mol spent a week in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December to finalise 2023 plans for the South and Central American barging industry.
The week opened at the office of member company YPF with a hybrid meeting, at which members discussed lots of topics. The following days saw visits to the Pan American (Axion Energy) terminal, a tugboat and some barges and, most importantly, to meet the crew on board.
The Latin-American Society of Marine Oil Terminals and Monobuoys Operators (SLOM) co-organised a day with technical operators and shipyard representatives.
There are many opportunities across different areas in the region. OCIMF is looking forward to working collaboratively with members, terminals and organisations like SLOM to address these, in what will be a challenging year for the global barging industry.
For more information contact Ton Mol, Barge Adviser, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Maritime security update
At 00:01 UTC on 1 January 2023 the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy will be removed. This marks the passage of a very successful period of threat mitigation for the maritime industry and while the geographical boundaries are removed, the guidance contained in BMP5 remains, along with the presence of international navies.
More details are available in the press release, which can be found on the OCIMF website here and the industry website here.
SIRE 2.0 training videos on human factors
OCIMF has developed a series of short training videos as part of its commitment to provide ongoing support for inspectors, officers, crew, vetters and operators during the transition to SIRE 2.0.
OCIMF aims to improve safety and environmental protection in the maritime industry by considering human factors in everything the organisation does. These videos explain the human factor and technical aspects of the SIRE 2.0 inspection from each stakeholder’s perspective. They aim to help stakeholders identify the conditions and systems that influence their behaviour, while promoting safety and excellence across all operations.
The training videos are being made available in two sets.
One set has been produced for viewing by ship staff to help them understand the importance of human factors within the SIRE 2.0 inspection and how this relates to their role onboard the ship. These videos can be downloaded and should be circulated to ships for regular viewing by the ship staff as part of their training programme onboard.
The other set contains five videos and has been produced for vetters in OCIMF member organisations as well as for staff based in operators’ offices ashore. These videos are designed to help vetters and operators understand the importance of human factors in the SIRE 2.0 inspection.
Although these videos have been produced with specific audiences in mind, stakeholders can view all videos to get a complete picture.
These videos can be accessed from the OCIMF website and can either be viewed on the webpage or downloaded for offline viewing.
Videos can be shared and should be circulated for regular viewing by ship staff and by staff based in member and operator organisations ashore as part of a training programme.
Re-set your OCIMF programmes password before 1 January 2023
Data security is important to OCIMF’s overall mission, goals, and philosophies. To support our participants, members, and operators, OCIMF has combined multiple layers of technical controls to the critical applications that support its business. Programmes users support these efforts by using effective passwords to access OCIMF’s programmes and to secure the critical data contained within them.
Data security includes requirements related to the length, complexity of passwords and rejecting breached passwords.
By 1 January 2023 you will need to reset your account password. Passwords must be created in the following format:
- A minimum of 8 characters long
- Contain at least one uppercase letter (A,B,C,...)
- Contain at least one lowercase letter (a,b,c…)
- Contain at least one number (1,2,3…)
- Contain at least one symbol (!,?,#,@...)
The programmes system will check the password you enter against a database of known breached passwords. If your password is on this list, the system will prompt you to create another one.
This change impacts all programmes users. OCIMF understands that making changes while travelling, or when preparing for an inspection, can be challenging. All new and existing users changing their password will need to meet these password requirements.
At the start of 2023, any programmes users who have not updated their account passwords will be prompted to make the change at their next login.
Your efforts to change the password as soon as possible will help improve the cybersecurity risk and protect data.
If you require any further information, please contact the Programmes Team This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
IMO news
79th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 79), 12–16 December 2022.
The following is a summary of the topics of relevance to OCIMF and its members.
Adoption of amendments to mandatory IMO Instruments
- Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V and VI concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters.
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning Mediterranean Sea SOX Emission Control Area (ECA).
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI regarding information in the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) and information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database.
Reduction of GHG emissions from ships
- Consideration of report of the 13th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 13):
– Work on shortlisting mid-term measures to continue in the two ISWG-GHG sessions – initial indications suggest a combination of a technical and economic measure.
– Route based actions to reduce GHG emissions – adoption of revised resolutions to include references to “green shipping corridors”.
– Progress on development of draft guidelines on lifecycle GHG intensity of marine fuels (LCA guidelines).
– Evidence of convergence of views with discussions to continue on defining the Revised GHG strategy over two ISWG-GHG sessions ahead of adoption at MEPC 80.
Air pollution prevention and energy efficiency
- Exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) – Update on discussions on EGCS discharge water and EGCS inspections.
- Biofuels – No progress on NOX emissions but growing signs of an increasing interest in the potential role of biofuels in the path to decarbonisation of the shipping industry.
- Black carbon – Proposal to define the geographical scope of “Arctic” to be considered by PPR.
- Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) matters – adoption of updated EEDI calculation and survey and certification guidelines. Update on proposed EEDI Phase 4.
Ballast Water Management (BWM)
- Ballast water record book – Finalisation of amendments to BWM Convention to include new parts I and II and planned adoption by MEPC 80.
- Temporary storage of grey water and treated sewage – To be permitted in defined circumstances and associated guidance to be developed.
- Ports with challenging water quality – A need to look at the issue holistically and drafting of essential elements to form any guidance on this matter.
- Unified Interpretations – Calibration of measurement taking components; new requirements when upgrading or changing a major component of BWMS on board.
For more information contact Abhijit Aul, Risk and Regulatory Affairs Adviser, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..