Pre-vetting
Pre-vetting is the proactive vetting process for the marine industries, in order to examine the shipboard prepardness and adequacy for the coming inspection, it is an advanced exercise, it is a good approach creating values for the concerned parties: the shipboard will be familiarized with the details in advance, such as: VPQ (Vessel particular questionaire) and VIQ (vessel inspection questionaire), it will facilitate the inspector to go through exhaustive items in a restricted time while cargo operation, definitely it will reduce the final observations, as a result, the inspection report will be happy to all involved reflecting the real condition onboard especailly the safety management system effectiveness and good industrial practices adopted, marine enviormental protection, humanity focused culture whereby most the oil tankers shipowners have accepted this cost effective means to showcase their fleet, the programme is dorminated by OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum), herewith the oil majors are keen on participation for their own interest, OCIMF defines four kinds of vettings:
SIRE: Ship Inspection Report Programme is one of the most significant safety initiatives, it is a unique tanker risk assessment tool of value to charterers, ship operators, terminal operators and government bodies concerned with ship safety, it is a very large database of up-to-date information about tankers and barges. Essentially, SIRE has focused tanker industry awareness on the importance of meeting satisfactory tanker quality and ship safety standards. Since its introduction, the SIRE Programme has received industry-wide acceptance and participation by both OCIMF Members, Programme recipients and by ship Operators.
These features have been established to make the program more uniform and user friendly and to provide a level of transparency unique in the marine transportation industry.
SIRE has established itself as a major source of technical and operational information to prospective charterers and other programme users. Its increasing use corresponds with oil industry efforts to better ascertain whether vessels are well managed and maintained.
Inspection reports are maintained on the index for a period of 12 months from the date of receipt and are maintained on the database for 2 years.
TMSA: The Tanker Management and Self Assessment programme provides companies with a means to improve and measure their own safety management systems.
The programme encourages companies to assess their safety management systems (SMS) against key performance indicators (KPIs) and provides a minimum expectation (level 1) plus three levels of increasing best practice guidance. Self assessment results can be used to develop phased improvement plans that support continuous improvement of their ship management systems. Companies are encouraged to regularly review their self assessment results against the TMSA KPIs and to create achievable plans for improvement.
OVID: The Offshore Vessel Inspection Database has been developed by OCIMF in response to a request from its members to provide a database of offshore inspections broadly following the format
of SIRE. Recognition that the offshore industry has different processes and procedures than the tanker world for assurance and chartering has been taken into account.
The aim of OVID is to provide a robust web based inspection tool and database of inspection reports; this will be underpinned with professional, trained and accredited inspectors. In the long term it is an aspiration that OVID will form a database that is central to the selection and assurance of offshore vessels enhancing the safety of operations in the industry.
OVID has been designed to provide a number of positive benefits to OCIMF / OGP Members and vessel managers. By utilising a database where inspection reports are available to OVID participating members experience has demonstrated that inspection numbers will drop over time.
Assurance checks as a part of the chartering process may be speeded up as the assurance personnel have access instantly to credible information on the vessel and its safety performance.
OCIMF members have cooperated to develop a common inspection document and format that will eliminate the need for inspectors to conduct inspections using a core document and client specific supplements; this should simplify the inspection process for both inspectors and ships staff and also provide assurance personnel in the oil companies with increased confidence in the inspection report content.
The provision of a document detailing vessel/ unit principal dimensions and equipment will give vessel operators the ability to 'show case' its capabilities and provide a tool to project teams to pre screen vessels that are capable of undertaking the required activities. Having this document controlled by the vessel/unit operator allows for rapid amendment to reflect upgrading activities, and hence allowing project teams to quickly evaluate the vessels new capabilities.
Proactive owners of offshore vessels will quickly see the benefit of keeping an active inspection on the database as it will streamline the pre chartering process and, for competent vessel operators reinforce their positive image with the clients.
MTIS: Developed with the aim of filling the gaps that exist in the international standards for terminals, the goal of MTIS is to ensure all terminals worldwide reach a common high standard of safety and environmental protection.
With the objective to compile a comprehensive database of relevant information for all of the world’s 4,000+ terminals – from the hardware available, to berth measurements and transfer rates – MTIS will complement similar work already being done by OCIMF and its members to improve ship safety and environmental protection.
The MTIS database will provide terminal and vessel operators, along with charters and associated services, with a single, central storage of terminal specifics in a consistent format.
The successful global coverage of MTIS will provide the opportunity to establish a terminal identification number, similar to the IMO number adopted by the shipping industry, thereby providing the opportunity and ability for companies to integrate personal terminal management systems with MTIS to improve compatibility and safety protection levels.
Flag state inspections
Flag states must, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea (UNCLOS) ensure that ships under their flag comply with international regulations, often adopted by the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO), on matters of safety, navigation, crewing etc. Part XII entail special provisions on protecting the marine environment, which includes placing special obligations on flag States to ensure compliance with international environmental legislation such as MARPOL. Failure to do so, can result in the flag state losing its jurisdiction over ships under its flag, also when these commit violations on the high seas.
While the primary responsibility of ship operators and owners is the safe operation of their ships and the safety and welfare of their crews, flag states have the legal authority and responsibility to enforce regulations upon vessels that are registered under its flag, such as those relating to inspection, certification, safety, and pollution.
The flag state will arrange for quality inspections, certification, and the issuance of safety and pollution prevention documents to ensure that national and international regulations are being met. It is for that reason that a nation’s role as a flag state is often seen as the first line of defence against potentially unsafe or environmentally damaging ship operations.
Flag State Inspections are carried out by approved Flag State Inspectors and include verification of statutory documentation and a general examination of the vessel's structure, machinery and equipment as well as a more thorough inspection and/or operational testing of fire fighting equipment, life saving appliances and safety equipment.
We have been authorised as Flag State Inspectors on behalf of Bahamas Maritime Authority and Barbados Maritime Ship Registry.
標題PSC Inspection
Port State Control (PSC) is an inspection regime for countries to inspect foreign-registered ships in port other than those of the flag state and take action against ships that are not in compliance.
PSCO investigates compliance with the requirements of international conventions: SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW and MLC. Inspections can involve in checking that the vessel is manned and operated in compliance with applicable international law, and verifying the competency of the ship's master and officers, and the ship's condition and equipment.
These inspections were originally intended to be a back up to flag State implementation, but experience has shown they can be extremely effective.
The primary responsibility for ships' standards rests with the flag State - but port State control provides a "safety net" to catch substandard ships.
Signatories to the Paris MOU (blue), Tokyo MOU (red), Indian Ocean MOU (green), Mediterranean MOU (dark green), Acuerdo de Vina del Mar (yellow), Caribbean MOU (olive), Abuja MOU (dark red), Black Sea MOU (cyan) and Riyadh MOU (navy).
