"OCIMF’s Marine Security Sub-committee members continue important work with military organisations and other industry bodies and have been busy in the Middle East this month."
Director's Log
As we head towards the end of another year, I reflect on the industry’s hard work and progress throughout 2019.
We have prepared ourselves for the implementation of the 2020 sulphur limit, and have published industry guidelines for the supply, storage and handling of these new fuels. We have continued dialogue and discussion on the 2030 and 2050 GHG reduction targets, which will take on a completely new focus next year after the sulphur changes have bedded in, and we have continued our progress on the subject of Human Factors solutions.
OCIMF has also been busy with other matters, continuing development of best practices and reviewing/updating existing guidance such as the Design and Construction Specification of Marine Loading Arms, Fourth Edition (MLA4) and Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment, Second Edition (OVMSA2), both of which are out later this month. OCIMF’s Marine Security Sub-committee members continue important work with military organisations and other industry bodies and have been busy in the Middle East this month. Our increased focus on China culminated in holding our Asia Pacific Regional Marine Forum and Executive Committee meeting in Shanghai where the opportunity was also taken to hold an industry media event. This occasion allowed the China Focus Group to meet with OCIMF Senior Technical Adviser Dave Wall and Technical Adviser (Barges) Matthew Graham.
I want to mention the recently introduced long service awards OCIMF have put in place as a small token of appreciation for employees who have given continued, committed service to the organisation. You can read more about who received these below, but I want to thank them here for their hard work and dedication to OCIMF. I also wish to bring to your attention the Lifetime Achievement Award which our former Director Andrew Cassels received this week at the Tanker Shipping and Trade conference. I had the honour and privilege of giving the award speech for someone who continues to support the industry through his voluntary role as the Chair of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.
I wish you a happy, healthy and safe December.
Rob Drysdale
Director OCIMF
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Design and Construction Specification for Marine Loading Arms – Coming soon
Design and Construction Specification for Marine Loading Arms, Fourth Edition, will be out 13 December.
This publication provides guidance to owners and vendors on designing and procuring marine loading arms (MLAs). It serves as a definitive guide to MLA construction and specification, covering topics such as applications, variability, operating envelopes, products transferred, servicing, manifold spacing, jetty and piping layouts and arm styles. This publication also includes guidance for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) MLAs to supplement the ISO standard.
With the publication of this edition, Design and Construction Specification for Marine Loading Arms, Third Edition will be superseded and removed from distribution.
Click here to pre-order your copy today!
Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment – Coming soon
Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment, Second Edition, will be out 16 December.
This second edition has been updated to reflect current legislation, expectations and emerging issues, and reflects feedback from companies, industry bodies and users of OVMSA.
Click here to pre-order your copy today!
Andrew Cassels receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Andrew Cassels, OCIMF Director (2015-18), who received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the Tanker industry at the Tanker Shipping & Trade Conference on 26 November.
International Seminar on Port State Control
OCIMF was represented at the International Seminar on Port State Control on 6 November in Ningbo, China by OCIMF Senior Technical Adviser Dave Wall who presented and answered questions on the upcoming 2020 sulphur cap and OCIMF’s safety concerns.
Approximately 80 Port State Control personnel attended the meeting, and OCIMF’s presentation was well received.
Joint Industry Working Group on Anchoring Equipment
OCIMF Technical Adviser (Engineering) Ricardo Martinez attended the first meeting of the Joint Industry Working Group on Anchoring Equipment (JIWG-A) which was established under the tripartite partnership of industry associations representing shipowners, shipyards and classification societies to investigate improving the safety of anchoring equipment.
The meeting was hosted by INTERTANKO and chaired by their Safety and Technical Committee (ISTEC) Chair, Mr Douglas Lang of Anglo-Eastern, with representatives from International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, OCIMF, shipbuilders and anchoring equipment manufacturers.
JIWG-A aims to review incidents involving anchor losses, windlass motor failures and associated personnel injuries by having stakeholders conduct reviews of their areas, e.g. regulators considering improvements to their regulations, manufacturers considering developments of safer protection systems to minimise the exposure of ship’s crew when systems do fail and shipowners considering the human element and the training of crew operating with equipment.
Work phases include data collection and document review, assessment of findings and determination of final deliverables. Data collection will be via a questionnaire to be sent to interested parties from within shipowner organisations, with an aim for the next meeting in spring 2020.
For more information, or to participate in the questionnaire, contact Ricardo Martinez
China Focus Group
29th meeting: 5 November, Shanghai, China (hosted by CNOOC)
Topics discussed at the meeting included:
- Development of the SIRE CAT 3 variant for China, with a dedicated work group.
- Introductions to North Head, OCIMF’s new public relations company in China.
- Updates on GPC and the VIP.
- Changes to the Marine Terminal Information System (MTIS).
- Content for the next Marine Terminal Operators Safety Management Workshop in 2020.
Next meeting: TBC
Maritime Security snippets
International Maritime Security Construct
OCIMF member representatives, Andrias Smith and Jon Owens (BP) (pictured), attended the opening for the new command centre for the Joint Strait of Hormuz Maritime Security Initiative, the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), at the USA Navy Base in Bahrain on 7 November.
The IMSC has a mandate to "deter malign activity, promote maritime security and stability, and ensure freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce” in the region.
To date, Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UK, Albania and the USA have joined.
To carry out the IMSC mission, large naval vessels (Sentinels) will watch over critical choke points, while smaller patrol craft and corvettes (Sentries) patrol the transit lanes in between. This will be supported by airborne surveillance assets monitoring the flow of merchant vessels through areas of highest risk. The new command centre aims to be a hub to collect information from participating navies and partners in industry and inform the coalition's naval operations.
International Maritime Exercise 2019
OCIMF took part in the sixth iteration of the International Maritime Exercise (IMX 19), a multinational exercise in the Middle East in November, which included naval vessels and personnel from over 50 nations and 7 international organisations.
This exercise was the largest regional exercise to date and the second largest maritime exercise in the world. It demonstrated the international community’s global commitment to the freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade.
OCIMF members participated in the planning and execution of the exercise by providing merchant vessels from the Suez Canal south to the Bab-al-Mandeb, through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Northern Arabian Gulf. The exercise began with shore-side training, table-top and classroom exercises where members shared industry best practice and risk mitigation measures. The exercise then moved to a fleet training exercise at sea to rehearse maritime security operations.
Since IMX’s establishment in 2012, OCIMF has participated in the exercise which aims to build strong relationships between navies and industry entities so that they can be better prepared for the next crisis.
This exercise demonstrates the global commitment to the freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade.
Combined Task Force 151 visit
While supporting the International Maritime Exercise in Bahrain, OCIMF’s Maritime Security Sub-committee (MSSC) members met with the new commander of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF151), Captain Khaled Al Kandari (Kuwait Navy).
CTF151’s mission is to deter and disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea and to engage with regional and other partners to build regional capacity to protect global commerce. Discussion with Captain Khaled and his staff covered the importance of adhering to Best Management Practice (BMP), prompt incident reporting and military/industry engagement. More details on CTF151 can be found here.
ExCom 84
84th meeting: 6 November 2019, Shanghai, China
Topics discussed at the meeting included:
- 2018 audit.
- OCIMF Strategy and planning.
- Updates on the VIP.
- 2020 budget.
Next meeting: 17 June 2020, London, UK
Upcoming IMO events (2020 1Q)
Formal meetings:
| 7th meeting of the Sub-committee on Navigation, Communications and Search And Rescue (NCSR 7) | 15 - 24 January |
| 7th meeting of the Sub-committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 7) | 3 - 7 February |
| 7th meeting of the Sub-committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 7) | 17 - 21 February |
| 7th meeting of the Sub-committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE 7) | 2 - 6 March |
| IOPC Funds spring meeting | 9 - 12 March |
| 107th session of the Legal Committee (LEG 107) | 16 - 20 March |
Intersessional working groups
These working groups are tasked with working on specific subjects and report to respective senior IMO bodies. Among others, the following meetings are relevant to OCIMF:
| 43rd meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Convention/14th meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Protocol | 9 - 13 March |
| 7th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (ISWG-GHG 7) | 23 - 27 March |
For the outcome of the past meeting, and the above formal meetings, log-in to the IMO area on the OCIMF members website here.
OCIMF Asia Pacific Regional Marine Forum
OCIMF’s Asia Pacific Regional Marine Forum (APRMF) took place in Shanghai, China on 7 November.
Among the 90 attendees were OCIMF members, the China Maritime Safety Administration (China MSA), the China Classification Society (CCS) as well as ship and barge operators.
Many thanks go to the speakers from China National Offshore Oil Coporation (CNOOC), CCS, China MSA, Lloyds Register, Marine Information Solution (MIS), JR Orion Services and Eaglestar Marine, as well as to the APRMF
Regional Marine Forum 2020 dates
The dates and locations for the 2020 Regional Marine Forums (RMFs) have been decided.
Venues are currently being sourced and event registration links will be available in early 2020. Please check the OCIMF website for updates.
2020 Principal Committee dates
| GPC 90 | 11-12 March | London, UK |
| OMC 20 | 1-2 April | Singapore |
| PTC 92 | 15-16 April | Rio De Janeiro, Brazil |
| ExCom 85 | 17 June | London, UK |
| ExCom 86 | 3 December | San Francisco, USA |
Please click here for calendar view.
OCIMF Long Service Award
Please join us in congratulating the following Secretariat members who received the Long Service Award for their continuous service between 2010 and 2018:
- Pauline Gilbert (10 years).
- Aziz Benbelkacem (10 years).
- Phil Pascoe (10 years).
- Rebecca Harrison (15 years).
Call for photos!
To celebrate OCIMF's 50th anniversary in 2020, we are producing a small commemorative book and would like to include photos from OCIMF members.
If you have any photos, specifically from OCIMF's early years, to share, please send them to
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).