"Over the past few years OCIMF has increased its focus on collaborative work through engagement with members and external parties for the benefit of all. In this issue there are examples of how OCIMF achieves this, for example, by participating at security and safety conferences, interacting with INTERPOL, IMO, UN and, of course, hosting its own regional marine forums."
Director's Log
I write this month’s log from Singapore where I am attending the Global Maritime Forum through my role in the Together in Safety initiative which I have been participating in since the beginning of the year.
While the forum has other workstreams that discuss the decarbonisation of shipping and attracting the right talent, the fourth workstream is about improving efficiency through collaboration. I’m a fan of collaboration as a way to solve industry issues, and a big part of it involves being open and frank – sharing information and ideas for the purpose of improving safety and reducing our environmental impact. Over the past few years OCIMF has increased its focus on collaborative work through engagement with members and external parties for the benefit of all. In this issue there are examples of how OCIMF achieves this, for example, by participating at security and safety conferences, interacting with INTERPOL, IMO, UN and, of course, hosting its own regional marine forums. I think that we can all agree that only through collaboration and engagement can we find the best solutions to the many challenges and changes that we face in our industry.
We will soon discover whether the extensive planning and preparation to address the 2020 sulphur limit has left the industry unscathed. I hope and trust that it will - allowing us to increase our focus on finding safe solutions to the IMO greenhouse gas reduction targets and on addressing Human Factors impacts in our industry.
I wish you a healthy, happy and safe November.
Rob Drysdale
Director OCIMF
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OCIMF presents at the Trieste Marine Safety Symposium
On 20 September 2019 OCIMF supported member company OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH as they held their first symposium on marine and oil terminal safety in Trieste, Italy.
More than 90 attendees from vessel operators, oil companies, authorities, shipping registers, cargo expeditors, port chemists, agents and anti-pollution companies participated in the symposium. OCIMF presented on the SIRE programme and the development of the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals, Sixth Edition (ISGOTT) alongside OMV’s regional partners Adriatic Vetting S.r.l. and Transalpine Pipeline (TAL).
The day was dedicated to discussing the stringent safety measures around Trieste’s crude terminal and TAL pipeline network, which account for more than 90% of the crude supply to OMV’s refineries in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. In the morning participants visited the terminal at Società Italiana per l'Oleodotto Transalpino Terminal (SIOT) in the middle of the city to learn about the sensitivities of the terminal’s location from SIOT Marine Supervisors and Pier Masters. The afternoon agenda was filled with presentations from OMV, TAL, OCIMF, INTERTANKO, the Coast Guard and local tug services.
Tripartite Shipbuilding Forum in Tokyo
OCIMF's Director Rob Drysdale and Technical Adviser (Engineering) Ricardo Martinez represented OCIMF at the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Tripartite Shipbuilding Forum in Tokyo, Japan on 17-18 October.
This annual event brings together industry associations representing shipowners, shipyards and classification societies to discuss the design, construction and operation of new and future ships. This year’s agenda included sessions on decarbonisation, digitalisation, pollution prevention and design safety. OCIMF was pleased to support member company representatives as they delivered two presentations that were well received by delegates.
Marine Technical Sub-committee (MTSC) Chair, Mr Ahmer Saeed of Shell, and Mr Yukichi Takaoka of CO2-free Hydrogen Supply Chain Technology Research Association (HySTRA) delivered an update on their project which includes developments on brown coal gasification technology, technology of long distance transportation of liquefied hydrogen in dedicated carriers and required liquefied hydrogen loading and unloading arm technologies. They also gave a project update on the Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier, currently under construction in Japan, and included updates on the technologies and philosophies required for its design, construction and future operation.
Mr Kiyofumi Kawaguchi of Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. presented IMO 2020 & Bunker Specifications: The Big Question Surrounding Blending for Optimal Results which touched on the market situation, refinery optimisation and quality issues as well as bunker fuel logistics and distribution.
Other topics of interest to OCIMF’s technical work include ballast water management systems, exhaust gas cleaning systems and performance monitoring systems as well as future joint industry work on anchoring and fire risks caused by leakage from low-pressure fuel pipes.
The next Tripartite forum will be in China in autumn 2020.
For more information, contact Ricardo Martinez.
Technical Meeting in Tokyo
OCIMF's Technical Adviser (Engineering) Ricardo Martinez met with the Japan Ship Technology Research Association (JSTRA) and representatives from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) and Tokyo Boeki Engineering, Ltd. (TEN) to exchange views on safety at the ship/shore interface.
JSRTA gave an overview of their work, which forms part of the HySTRA Project, and discussed the development of and operating rules for cargo loading systems for liquefied hydrogen (LH2) including the development of a loading arm for transferring liquefied hydrogen. These loading arms require special features including a double-walled vacuum insulation structure that provides high thermal insulation performance, a highly-flexible swivel joint for the piping that permits 360-degree rotation while maintaining high thermal insulation and an emergency release system (ERS) that safely interrupts LH2 transfer in the event of an emergency.
Ricardo presented an overview of OCIMF and their work on ship/shore interface. He also gave an update on the Design and Construction Specification for Marine Loading Arms, Fourth Edition (MLA 4) which is published on 13 December. He explained that MLA 4 will be considered the definitive guide to MLA construction and specification because it covers topics such as applications, variability, operating envelopes, products transferred, servicing, manifold spacing, jetty and piping layouts and arm styles.
The representatives acknowledged that the meeting was helpful for their future work and agreed to maintain communication as their pilot projects progress in the coming year.
For more information, contact Ricardo Martinez.
Ports and Terminals Committee
91st meeting: 16-17 October, Singapore (hosted by ExxonMobil)
The 91st meeting was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Singapore. The main topic of discussion was the review of the draft International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers (ISGOTT), Sixth Edition. Andy Dogherty, the Project Adviser, briefed the committee on a chapter-by-chapter review and updated them on the comments that were received from the Ports and Terminals Committee (PTC), General Purposes Committee (GPC) and International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) committee members.
Next meeting: TBD (hosted by TBD)
General Purposes Committee
89th meeting: 7-9 October, San Antonio, USA (hosted by Marathon Petroleum)
The committee discussed:
- OCIMF Strategy.
- IMO key issues/OCIMF Strategy on IMO.
- Actions relating to the learning from the Sanchi-CF Crystal Official Investigation Report.
- Programmes Document Library (PDL) project, including revision of the SIRE Composite Guidelines.
- Vessel Inspection Programme (VIP) project.
- Beta testing of the Vessel Inspection Request tool for tankers.
- Incorporation of the Joint Industry Guidance on safety issues related to 0.50%-sulphur fuel in SIRE.
- Proposed Tanker Management Self Assessment (TMSA) chapter fourteen on human factors.
- Revisions of Drug and Alcohol Policy.
- Draft Recommendations on Usage of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) and Preventing Incidents.
- International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-Barges and Terminals (ISGINTT), Second Edition.
- International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT), Sixth Edition.
- Enclosed space entry fatalities.
Next meeting: 11-12 March 2020, London, UK (hosted by OCIMF)
Vessel Inspection Programme Steering Group
5th meeting: 8 October, San Antonio, USA (hosted by Marathon Petroleum)
The steering group endorsed the latest recommendations by the three working groups: the Inspection Working Group, Governance Working Group and Innovation and Technology Working Group. The group agreed to issue a communication on the Vessel Inspection Programme (VIP) project to members and industry.
Next meeting: 10 March 2020, London, UK (hosted by OCIMF)
North America Inland and Coastal Barge Focus Group
16th meeting: 27-28 August, Houston, USA (hosted by Chevron)
The committee reviewed:
- Discussion points from the first North American Barge User Group, held 27 August 2019.
- Progress on the review of the North American CAT 3 SIRE variant.
- Development of CAT 3 Inspector training for ATBs.
- SIRE CAT 3 performance for North America region.
- Plans for the next Barge User Group in early 2020.
Next meeting: 26-27 February 2020, Houston, USA (hosted by SeaRiver Maritime/IMT)
Global Inland and Coastal Barge Focus Group
11th meeting: 29-30 August, Houston, USA (hosted by Chevron)
The committee reviewed:
- The Global Barge Strategy and its plan and priorities.
- SIRE CAT 3 performance.
- IMO issues pertaining to inland and coastal barges.
- OCIMF barge publications.
- Objectives and work items for 2020.
Next meeting: Week commencing 27 January 2020 (TBC), London, UK (hosted by OCIMF)
IMO Symposium on IMO 2020 and Alternative Fuels
The symposium was held 17-18 October at the IMO’s headquarters in London. Over 300 attendees from around the globe joined the event, representing Member Governments, shipping, refineries, fuel oil suppliers and legal professionals.
This event was another initiative of the IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim to prepare for the forthcoming IMO 2020 rule which limits sulphur-content fuel to 0.50% from 1 January 2020. He addressed the new rule’s implementation and enforcement, and future alternative fuels.
During a panel discussion on industry preparation and guidance, Sam Megwa, OCIMF Deputy Director and Chief Representative to IMO, gave an overview of the Joint Industry Guidance – The supply and use of 0.50%-sulphur marine fuel that OCIMF published with other industry organisations. The overview focussed on safety, and e-learning support for seafarers. A copy of the presentation can be found on the IMO website.
In the closing remarks, the IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim stressed "The development and provision of viable alternative fuels cannot be solved by the shipping industry
alone - but needs support from the wider maritime industry, such as oil industries, charterers and ports".
Full programme details can be found on the IMO website.
Marine Security snippets
Global Marine Security Conference 2019 – Abuja, Nigeria
OCIMF was an active partner at Nigeria’s Global Maritime Security Conference (GMSC) which brought together over 2,000 attendees from international, continental and regional maritime institutions and stakeholders as well as representatives from over 80 nations.
The conference included thematic panels on:
- The legal/policy/regulatory framework for maritime security.
- The institutional framework and capacities.
- The material, human, financial, technological and other resources needed to enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
- The ways and means of implementing the necessary strategies for enhanced maritime security in the region. (Abuja Declaration on the GoG, paragraph 2a-d).
In his opening address Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, highlighted “We are converging the world on Africa soil to find an African solution to a challenge been faced by Africans. The challenge of piracy, sea robbery, and maritime crime, and I believe the time is ripe”.
Maritime insecurity in the GoG is a concern for the membership and it is encouraging that Nigeria and NIMASA are striving to find workable solutions. OCIMF contributed to several panels and, of note, was invited to a private meeting with the regional Chiefs of Navies where security concerns were shared. The Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC), who OCIMF supports, presented a concept paper for the Shared Awareness and
Deconfliction–Gulf of Guinea (SHADE–GoG) which gained traction and will be developed further in the run-up to the next G7 Group of Friends of the Gulf of Guinea (G7++FOGG) meeting in November.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, chaired the final session and Dr Peterside read the communiqué (Abuja Declaration on the GoG). The ministers agreed to a GMSC Expert Working Group to implement the decisions that were made when working with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), ICC and other international partners. Of interest to OCIMF members, the conference resolved the following:
- GoG States and the international community should put mechanisms in place to ensure that resources that are illegally harvested/explored in the GoG, including stolen oil and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishery, are intentionally banned as was the case with the “blood diamonds”.
- GoG States should explore the possibility of designated maritime courts to handle cases of sea robbery, piracy and other maritime offences.
A copy of the communiqué can be found here and related press articles here.
The conference concluded that collaboration between the navies, coast guards, and maritime authorities of countries in the GoG and other continental and international maritime nations is vital, and countries in the GoG should intensify maritime capacity and infrastructure building efforts.
International Maritime Bureau’s – Third Quarter Report
The International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) report for the third quarter of 2019 was issued on 15 October.
The report highlighted fewer incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships, but, worryingly, incidents involving guns and knives remain consistent. Pottengal Mukundan, Director of ICC IMB, stated "Although incidents are down, the Gulf of Guinea continues to be a concern for piracy and armed robbery-related activities with kidnappings of crew members increasing in both scale and frequency. It is important that shipmasters and owners continue to report all actual, attempted, and suspected incidents to ensure that an accurate picture of these attacks emerge and action is taken against these criminals before the incidents further escalate".
OCIMF urges all seafarers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities. A copy of the report can be found here.
INTERPOL visit
Maritime Security Sub-committee Chair, John Evans (Shell), and OCIMF Security Adviser, Russell Pegg, held a meeting with INTERPOL in Lyon, France on 22 October.
This meeting served as a continuation of engagement with law enforcement authority after INTERPOL presented at the OCIMF Security Seminar in Brazil. The parties present considered several areas to further develop, focussing on information sharing, training and education.
Middle East Regional Marine Forum
The Joint Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) Marine Conference and OCIMF Middle East Regional Marine Forum (MERMF) took place in Dubai on 10-11 September.
The event was well received with almost 140 attendees. OCIMF would like to thank the speakers from LBRG Holdings, MOL Group, Svitzer, Howden, Reliance Industries Ltd, Windward, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), DNV GL, Bahri Ship Management, INTERTANKO, Roxana Shipping, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, Marine Information Solutions (MIS) and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO).
Thank you also to Ahmed Al-Shawi (the MERMF Champion) and ENOC for their support in organising the event.
South and Central America Regional Marine Forum
OCIMF’s South and Central America Regional Marine Forum (SCARMF) took place in Cartagena, Colombia on 1 October.
Among the 130 attendees were OCIMF members, the Ecuadorian Navy as well as ship, barge and terminal operators. Many thanks go to the speakers from YPF S.A, Petrobras, Chevron, Compañía Naviera Horamar, Humboldt Shipmanagement, MIS Marine and INTERTANKO, and also to the SCARMF Champion Gonzalo Mera Truffini from YPF S.A and to Veronica Payares Martinez of Sociedad Latinoamericana de Operadores de Terminales Marítimos Petroleros y Monoboyas (SLOM) for her invaluable help in the run-up to the event.
Asia Pacific Regional Marine Forum
Last chance to register!
The last Regional Marine Forum of 2019 will be held at the Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai in Shanghai, China on 7 November.
Register for the Asia Pacific Regional Marine Forum
Tanker Accident Database
The Learning Lessons, Accidents, Statistics and Trends (LLAST) database, known as the Tanker Accident Database, provides an anonymous reporting tool for vessel owners and technical managers to document measurable accident data.
The aim is to collate anonymous tanker accident details which, over time, will allow for root cause analysis of tanker accidents, preventing repeat accidents and leading to further advances in maritime best practice and safety.
There has already been a strong uptake in participants registering their interest Visit the Tanker Accident Database website to register. Registered users will be alerted once the database goes live.
For more information contact Dave Wall, Senior Technical Adviser or Ricardo Martinez, Technical Adviser (Engineering).