Is your SMS and TMSA Procedures ready to include the STS (ship to Ship) records and address improvement lessons?

DYNAMARINe has introduced its service onlineSTS.net since 1/1/2011 with aim to support the maritime community in the assessment of STS Operations.

Recently olinests.net has introduced an additional Service associated with consultancy in SMS review with respect to STS Operations.

The new Marpol chapter 8 of ANNEX 1, (i.e. IMO MEPC 186(59)) was implemented on 1^st April 2012. All the STS operations that have taken place after that date are subject to assessment by third parties, i.e PSC officers, ISM and TMSA auditors.

The existence of the STS plan signifies that the following procedures are in line:

• Efficient STS Record keeping;
• Post Assessment of STS Records;
• Procedure that ascertains that corrective actions from STS assessments are incorporated in the Screening Procedure during vessel nomination;
• Your Masters are technically supported with respect to risk generating issues such as Fender selection as mooring lines failure, weather limitations and rolling effect;
• Does your risk assessment procedure diversifies normal lightering from the reverse lightering operations?
• In case you have permanent fenders on board your vessel, do you have procedures for maintenance and inspection included in your STS Plan?
• Do you have procedures in line to agree and ascertain the qualifications of POAC, as prescribed in the IMO manual on oil pollution, prior commencement of each STS Operation?
• Do you include in the officers familiarization process, procedures associated to Past assessment of STS Operations
• Do you have procedures to request and assess provided fenders and hoses from Service Providers?
• If the fendering scheme is not according to OCIMF/ICS guidelines what are your actions towards technical advice to your master for risk mitigating actions.
• The feedback from the assessment of records plus available STS Information and benchmarking are issues that should be included in the Screening policy of nominated vessels as well as the technical support you provide to your masters. When screening a nominated vessel you have to consider the STS Location statistics and available incident statistics.

Bear in mind that according to latest OCIMF/ICS Guidelines Paragraph 3.1 ?For all STS transfer operations each Master remains at all times responsible for the safety of his own ship, its crew, cargo and equipment and should not permit safety to be prejudiced by the actions of others.?

Should you wish our consultancy services on above issues for your organization please do not hesitate contacting us.

We have the capacity to assist you in the following:

• Customized STS Policies
• Procedures on STS Record keeping
• Procedures on Assessment of records
• Procedures on Technical advice to your Master for each STS Operation
• Procedures for distributing the Masters' STS experience to your entire fleet

Test your STS Policies here

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