AMSA has issued a fact sheet to provide guidelines regarding parent-tender vessel operations (also known as ‘dory operations’) with the aim to improve safety for fishermen. AMSA also refers to some common hazards in parent–tender vessel operations, the associated risks and possible ways of controlling those risks.
Parent–tender vessel operations use a parent vessel to transport tenders to a given location, where they are dispatched to carry out activities independently of the parent vessel. Examples include tenders to Class 2 (non-passenger vessels) and Class 3 (fishing) vessels operating in B or C designated waters. These operations are commonly referred to as ‘dory operations’.
Parent–tender vessel operations can be particularly dangerous due to a number of factors. These factors often include:
- an inability to contact the parent vessel when an incident occurs involving a sole operator
- lack of safety equipment
- lack of general communications ability
- lack of emergency procedures
- the use of old, or heavily modified vessels with compromised stability
AMSA recommends the following measures in order to be prepared properly for dory operations
- When writing and updating your SMS you must do a risk assessment which identifies, for example:
• daily tasks performed by all crew members
• potential risks involved in each task
• the appropriate crew for the vessel
• a designated person who is responsible for identifying and controlling potential risks, which include the state of the vessel, crew fatigue, alcohol consumption by crew, engine break down, and fuel loss. Your SMS must state how you will control the risks identified.
2. Inductions are required on both the parent and tender vessel, including training to ensure any crew member has a sufficient level of competency to operate safely.
3. As the master of a parent vessel it is your responsibility to make sure that you can locate your tenders at all times. You should use radar and Automatic Identification System (AIS) for monitoring purposes and VHF radios for continuous communications.
4. Your SMS must include information on how you and your crew will respond in an emergency
Risk assessment for parent-tender operation
The owner must conduct a risk management process on the entire operation, including the operation of the tenders.
Tenders will be subject to very different hazards and risks from the parent vessel and these need to be documented and controlled. By following a basic fourstep process, an owner (with the assistance from the crew) can easily conduct a risk management process.
Once an owner has identified all foreseeable hazards and risks in an operation it’s important to give these risks a rating so you can implement appropriate controls.
When you have assessed each risk to determine its likelihood and level of impact, you then need to eliminate or reduce the risk as much as possible
Some effective ways of controlling risk include:
• ensuring tenders are safe to operate and equipped with sufficient safety equipment
•developing standard operating procedures
• ensuring crew are competent to operate the tender and have been provided with adequate information, training and instruction
• developing emergency response plans
• reporting incidents when they occur
• using appropriate safety equipment and communication equipment
• regular inspection and maintenance of the vessel, its machinery and equipment
• using personal protective equipment such as lifejackets and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
Further information may be found by reading AMSA’s fact sheet on dory operation
Source: AMSA
