"STS ORGANISER" ? A confusing term. Who is it, and what are it's responsibilities?

According to latest STS OCIMF guidelines an STS Organiser ?is a shore based operator responsible for arranging an STS transfer operation. The Organiser may be an STS Service Provider.?

The term ?STS ORGANISER? is referenced in four separate sections throughout the latest OCIMF guidelines and in many cases this particular term is confused with the role of the STS Service Provider.

An obvious question that arises is the following:

WHAT IS AN STS ORGANISER?

Possible answers are the following:

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• It is the charterer/cargo owner who decides on the cargo transfer and charter for both participating vessels.
• It is the STS Service Provider who takes responsibility to assist the STS Operation with the necessary technical and advisory resources.
• It is the Technical operator who manages a vessel involved in an STS Operation.

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The definition of the STS Service Provider is explained at the latest OCIMF guidelines as ?Companies sometimes employed to organise and assist with STS transfers. The services offered by these companies vary, but often include the provision of personnel and equipment to facilitate the STS transfer. The STS Service Provider may also supply the essential personnel and equipment needed, such as hoses, fenders and support craft. The STS Service Provider may also be referred to as an STS Contractor or STS Resource Provider.?

The term ?STS ORGANISER? appears at the following sections of latest OCIMF STS guidelines:

A. At section 4.3 mentioned as ?that the STS organiser generally provide pre-arrival information to nominated ships. The STS organiser may be the operator of the ships if carrying out in-house operations, or may be an STS service provider. Normally such providers send advance STS instructions to the ships concerned.?

According to this section the STS ORGANISER will inform both participating vessels for all necessary information prior the STS operation. This information is described in detail at section 4.3.2 of latest OCIMF guidelines. The understanding is that this is a responsibility of the Charterer/Cargo Owner who arranges for the STS Operation. Once an STS Service Provider is contracted for the technical assistance and needed resources, he acts on behalf of the Charterer as the STS ORGANISER.

B. In section 9.1.3 reference is made to the verification of age of utilised fenders by the Master, shipping company or STS organiser, and if these are provided by an STS service provider. In this reference the ?STS ORGANISER? is a different entity from that of the STS service provider since the age of fenders should be ?ascertained? prior to use. Therefore it is concluded that in this case the STS Organiser is the charterer/cargo owner, or a Tanker commercial operator.

C. In the second to the last paragraph of section 9.1.3 the following is mentioned: ?It is the responsibility of the STS organiser to determine the fender requirements and to agree these with all other parties involved.?

The parties involved at an STS Operation are the Technical operator and his Master, the STS Organiser and STS Service Provider. In this case, if the STS Service Provider and STS Organiser arethe same entity, then fenders should be agreed upon between the Service Provider and the Master. If the STS organiser is the charterer/cargo owner then he should determine fender requirements and agree with those ofthe Service Provider and the Master.

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From above paragraphs mentioned above, it is clear that the "STS ORGANISER", as a term, is in fact confusing since in most cases it reflects the duties of the STS Service Provider. Our view is that the STS ORGANISER is the entity that "ORGANISES" an STS operation. In simple terms it decides on both participating vessels, the STS location and Service Provider. The confusion in his role, in conjunction with the role of the STS Service Provider, is a result of the charterer duties and responsibilities denoted within the STS clauses of various charter parties. The STS Service Provider is a servant to the Charterer/ Cargo Owner and as such he undertakes to provide the appropriate resources for the safe completion of the STS operation.

Having mentioned the above, as a matter of consistency, it is proposed that all STS Stakeholders have the STS Organiser well defined prior each STS Operation. In doing so, Tanker operators should request from their brokers/ charterers to revert with the STS ORGANISER full style prior the commencement of the STS Operation.

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