Tag: OCIMF

Raising global awareness of standards

OCIMF: Guidelines on Capabilities of Emergency Response Services

The International Maritime Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), the International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA), and the International Shipping Federation (ISF), welcome the recent decrease in the number of attempted and successful attacks against ships by Somalia-based pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.This decrease may be attributed to a combination of factors, including: the presence of naval forces disrupting pirate operations; implementation of self-protection measures on board merchant ships and better situational awareness of where the threats are; coupled with more effective action ashore in Somalia by the Somali authorities and the international community.The above-mentioned Organizations remain convinced that the only long-term solution to piracy is to establish effective government and implement the rule of law ashore in Somalia. However, until that is achieved, there can be no room for complacency. Any reduction in the level of protection of merchant ships could lead to a resurgence of pirate activities. Piracy must continue to be suppressed through the visible presence of and robust action by, the world's navies, consistent with ...

ICS, IACS, BIMCO, Intercargo, Intertanko, OCIMF, CESS Representatives of the leading worldwide Associations of Shipbuilders, Classification Societies and Shipowners met in Busan, Korea for their annual Tripartite meeting hosted by the Korean Register of Shipping and KOSHIPA, the national shipbuilders association.The meeting was united in expressing its serious concern with the obstacles that all three parties face as the Ballast Water Management Convention moves closer to ratification, eight years after its text was adopted. It was always going to be challenging to fit ballast water treatment equipment to all of the world's 70,000 ships.New technologies needed to be explored and developed to treat the volume of water required by ocean going ships as ballast. However the slow pace of ratification by IMO member States has negated the carefully staged implementation programme that was a feature of the original Convention. Now that the fixed timeline for implementation has passed without entry into force it means that, as soon as the Ballast Water Management Convention does meet its ratification criteria, thousands of ships will need to be fitted in a very short time.Whilst strenuous efforts were made by industry, this will put unattainable demands on ship repair facilities, engineering capabilities and on ...

Oil Companies Issue Recommendations on Seafarers Work Hour Rules

OCIMF launches terminal self-assessment document

To improve fuel efficiency and reduce air emissions Over fifty charterers, terminal operators and INTERTANKO Members gathered on Tuesday in Singapore to consider the benefits of the Virtual Arrival (VA) concept. The gathering was organised jointly by the Maritime and Port authority of Singapore (MPA), OCIMF and INTERTANKO. The objective was to hear how the VA concept had been used in practice and consider further how the concept could be made more widespread to improve fuel efficiency and reduce air emissions.The MPA's Chief Executive of Operations, Capt Segar, chaired the session and provided the port authority's views on the concept, explaining the expected benefits of reducing the number of vessels waiting in the anchorage and subsequently reducing the risk of incidents.After an introduction to the concept by INTERTANKO's Senior Manager Research & Projects Erik Ranheim, it was then left to the Panelists to provide their experience in using Virtual Arrival. This was kicked off by BP's Nigel Tan who provided a very clear message that the success of the concept relied on the charter party clause and how this was formed.This led to a good discussion about the trust and transparency required between the charterer and owner with INTERTANKO's General ...

Minimum expectations to ensure compliance with related provisions, The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has released an information paper outlining areas of concern and potential ambiguities surrounding seafarers' hours of work.Recommendations Relating to the Application of Requirements Governing Seafarers' Hours of Work and Rest offers guidance on differing interpretations of the requirements of applicable Conventions (2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention).The paper considers the minimum expectations to ensure compliance with related provisions, and recommendations are provided for the information of OCIMF members and the managers and crews of all applicable vessels.To view the guidance, click here.Source: Oil Companies International Marine Forum

Oil, gas and chemical terminal particulars questionnaire Oil company consultancy OCIMF has launched an oil, gas and chemical terminal particulars questionnaire.This marks the start of a four-pronged attack to raise standards at oil terminals worldwide - OCIMF Marine Terminal System.The second part will be launched at the end of 1Q12 and will be an update of its existing Marine Terminal Baseline Criteria. It will take the form of OCIMF's successful Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA) initiative and will be restyled Marine Terminal Management and Self-Assessment (MTMSA).Following this will come a Marine Terminal Operating Training System (MTOTS), which should be ready as a guideline in 2013.The fourth element will be a Marine Terminal Assessor and Accreditation Programme (MTAA), which will be aimed at giving their members confidence that the staff they use to conduct the MTMSAs are suitably qualified.Kicking the initiative off, OCIMF members are being asked to fill in a questionnaire listing all the relevant information about their terminals worldwide. These include single point mooring buoys and gas terminals.One of the main objectives is to ensure safer berths and safer ship-to-shore interfaces, which has been a cause for concern recently. It has been found that some vessels are being sent to ...

OCIMF Marine Terminal System Oil company consultancy OCIMF has launched an oil, gas and chemical terminal particulars questionnaire.This marks the start of a four-pronged attack to raise standards at oil terminals worldwide - OCIMF Marine Terminal System.The second part will be launched at the end of 1Q12 and will be an update of its existing Marine Terminal Baseline Criteria. It will take the form of OCIMF's successful Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA) initiative and will be restyled Marine Terminal Management and Self-Assessment (MTMSA).Following this will come a Marine Terminal Operating Training System (MTOTS), which should be ready as a guideline in 2013.The fourth element will be a Marine Terminal Assessor and Accreditation Programme (MTAA), which will be aimed at giving their members confidence that the staff they use to conduct the MTMSAs are suitably qualified.Kicking the initiative off, OCIMF members are being asked to fill in a questionnaire listing all the relevant information about their terminals worldwide. These include single point mooring buoys and gas terminals.One of the main objectives is to ensure safer berths and safer ship-to-shore interfaces, which has been a cause for concern recently. It has been found that some vessels are being sent to the wrong terminals, ...