"I am delighted to be writing my first Director’s Log for the OCIMF newsletter."
Director's Log
I am delighted to be writing my first Director’s Log for the OCIMF newsletter.
I took over from Rob Drysdale as Managing Director on 1 December. He eased my transition with his characteristic humour and experience gained from his time at OCIMF and in the industry. He saw the organisation through a change of strategy, accomplished amid a global pandemic. I’d like to congratulate Rob on his work at OCIMF with hopes that I may further his vision in my three years.
I am excited to be taking over at such a crucial time for the marine industry. Although COVID has changed the way we work and collaborate, I look forward to incorporating remote work with face-to-face meetings.
As we adjust to our new strategy and organisational structure, I am keen to build a culture among us that seeks diversity of thought, innovation, and openness to changes that benefit the industry. I will encourage further engagement within OCIMF teams, our wider membership, and the greater shipping industry. This will enable us to tackle the challenges of achieving the IMO Sustainable Development Goals, specifically finding solutions to meeting the energy-efficiency regulations and standards addressing GHG emissions.
We plan to launch SIRE 2.0 in spring 2022. This has involved a huge amount of work and I congratulate those who have accomplished the work to date and are dedicating more hours to finalise the project.
I would like to welcome our fellow newcomers, Luis Filipe Ferreira de Santana, Engineering Adviser, who joined in December, and Ton Mol, Barge Advisor, who will join us in January.
I wish you, your families, and all those at sea, best wishes for health and happiness in 2022!
Karen Davis
Director OCIMF
SIRE 2.0 webinars
OCIMF recently hosted a series of webinars for all SIRE programme recipients, which were very well attended.
The sessions covered:
- New Inspection Process: A walk-through of the key components of the SIRE 2.0 inspection process and new approach to recording observations based on equipment, procedures and human factors.
- Human Factors Approach: Overview of how human factors will be applied in SIRE 2.0 inspection and reporting processes.
- Development and Testing of IT Integrations for SIRE 2.0: Actions companies should take to successfully transition from SIRE to SIRE 2.0.
- Management of Change: High-level review of MoC actions for programme recipients, inspectors and vessel operators.
You can view the full recording of the webinar here. For SIRE 2.0 FAQs, along with a series of factsheets for further information please click here. The FAQ will be updated in the new year to incorporate the questions raised by participants during the recent webinar sessions.
OCIMF will publish the full SIRE 2.0 question library and supporting guidance materials in January 2022. A feedback portal will be made available to programme participants from April 2022 where comments and suggestions can be provided for consideration during future programme reviews. Additional resources and engagement activities for all stakeholders will be rolled-out through Q1 2022.
While OCIMF develops SIRE 2.0, the existing SIRE programme will continue to be supported and improved, ensuring SIRE incorporates the latest industry standards, best practice and regulation.
Should you have any queries relating to the project, please contact Sam Megwa, OCIMF Programmes Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
OCIMF inspector training schedule 2022
As OCIMF progresses towards the implementation of SIRE 2.0, a schedule of OCIMF inspector training for 2022 has been announced.
The refresher training and transition training programme for SIRE Cat-1 inspectors will ensure that all current inspectors are adequately trained and transitioned to the SIRE 2.0 Programme when it is launched in April 2022.
The schedule also includes refresher training courses for current SIRE Cat-3 inspectors and inspectors under the OVID Programme, and courses for new OVID inspectors.
A schedule of training courses for new SIRE Cat-1 and Cat-3 inspectors will be announced in January 2022.
Further information on the training schedule as well as on inspector audits, accreditation expiry dates and ECDIS training can be accessed from our website by clicking here for SIRE and here for OVID.
For further information you may contact Ajay Gour, OCIMF Inspector Training and Accreditation Manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OCIMF welcomes new technical advisers
OCIMF is pleased to welcome two new technical advisers on three year secondments.
Luis Filipe Ferreira de Santana (pictured right) started as Engineering Adviser this month, taking over from Ricardo Martinez. Filipe has been working with Petrobras Transporte since 2012 as Naval Architect, based in Rio de Janeiro, and has worked as a technical adviser to marine and offshore terminals over the last three years. Internationally, he has acted as the South and Central America Regional Champion of OCIMF and Inter-institutional Relations Director of the Latin American Society of Operators of Maritime Oil Terminals and Monobuoys (SLOM).
Joining as Barge Adviser in January is Ton Mol (pictured below right). For the last 20 years Ton worked for Interstream Barging, which he describes as “one of the most beautiful companies in the European Barging Industry”. Of his new role, Ton said: “The position of Barge Adviser within OCIMF is a great honour and challenge for me and I will give my all to succeed. Raising the standard on barges worldwide and ensuring that the people on board feel safe and act safely are two goals that can make this a success.”
International Maritime Prize ceremony
The International Maritime Prize is awarded annually by the IMO Council to the individual or organisation judged to have made the most significant contribution to the work and objectives of IMO. The ceremony, held at the IMO on 6 December, presented both the 2020 International Maritime Prize and the 2021 IMO Awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.
The 2020 International Maritime Prize was awarded to Paul Sadler, who was the accredited representative to the IMO on behalf of International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). He was nominated for this award by the UK government and IACS, who commended him for his contribution to the development of IMO regulations.
The 2021 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at sea was presented to Tran Ban Khoi, a serving Search and Rescue Officer with the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center No. II, Vietnam Maritime Administration. He saved the lives of four people on a cargo ship that sank in extreme weather conditions.
Finally, Certificates of Commendation and Letters of Commendation were awarded to various nominated individuals from a range of countries for exceptional bravery at sea.
OCIMF was represented at the ceremony by Saurabh Sachdeva, OCIMF Publications and Advocacy Director and accredited representative to the IMO and Moto Tsuchiya, OCIMF Regulatory Affairs Adviser.
OCIMF representatives attended the International Maritime Prize ceremony at the IMO.
Award of Merchant Navy Medal
As announced in the September Newsletter, OCIMF was delighted that Chris Scothern, who was seconded from IMT as the Merchant Navy Liaison Officer to UKMTO/IMSC and CMF in the Middle East, was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal.
On 7 December the OCIMF Managing Director Rob Drysdale (pictured left) and Security Adviser Russell Pegg (pictured right) joined Chris (centre) at Trinity House for the award ceremony. The award was presented by the UK Minister for Maritime, Robert Courts MP. Many congratulations to Chris.
Workshop on Mooring safety: Human-centred design
A cross-functional workshop on mooring safety and human-centred design was held virtually on 8 December. It was led by members of the Nautical Expert Group and Human Factors Committee with broad participation from barges, offshore, engineering and structures expert groups.
Presenters shared examples of human-centred design and improvements in mooring arrangement layout that minimise exposure to crew and substantially reduce snap back zones, as well as alternative mooring concepts being trialled in the industry.
Additional presentations included human factor considerations and measures to improve barrier integrity to prevent mooring incidents.
A review of sampled mooring incident data from 2015-2021 revealed that mooring-related incidents could be catastrophic in nature once barriers are compromised and people come in the line of fire.
There will be future engagements on how to promote human-centred design considerations in mooring and provide a safer workspace for people to operate in.
For enquiries, contact Sanchay Srivastava, OCIMF Nautical Adviser This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Attendees at the workshop on mooring safety: human-centred design
OCIMF conducts Blue Ribbon Review of upcoming PIANC recommendation
The Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC) has been revising their PIANC MarCom WG 153B (update WG 153) Recommendations for the Design and Assessment of Marine Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Terminals and OCIMF has been asked to review and comment before its release.
Marine Structures and Civil Engineering members regularly participate in PIANC and other industry working groups to provide operational, inspection and maintenance experience from the oil and gas sector, particularly when external guidance could potentially affect the sector, members’ operations and existing guidance.
OCIMF participation allows:
- Continuous focus on ensuring oil and gas operational aspects are considered in design documents developed primarily by engineering consultants and vendors to reduce overall risk in members’ operations.
- Representation by industry to provide experience in the operation of facilities to help calibrate the risk basis for recommendations that affect ongoing operations and the design of new facilities.
- Contribution by subject matter experts that ensure OCIMF requirements are included, content is aligned, and consistency is maintained across various industry documents.
For enquiries, contact Ricardo Martinez, OCIMF Engineering Adviser This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Meeting reports
Executive Committee
The 88th meeting of the Executive Committee (ExCom) was held as a hybrid meeting on 1 December 2021. The physical part of the meeting took place in London. Four members of ExCom attended in person including the Chair, Mark Ross. The outgoing Managing Director, Rob Drysdale and the incoming Managing Director, Karen Davis also attended in person. All other members of ExCom attended the meeting remotely.
The Chair welcomed all members, including new representatives Chris Bulera (ConocoPhillips), Lambros Klaoudatos (BP) and Karen Davis (ConocoPhillips). The Chair thanked Rob Drysdale for his achievements during his three years as Managing Director. The Chair noted the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. He was delighted that OCIMF had continued to produce excellent output during this extended period thanks to the dedication and hard work of the Secretariat staff and member representatives on committees and expert groups.
Topics covered at this meeting included:
- Strategy implementation update.
- Engagement in the Asia Pacific region
- Secondee resourcing.
- Update on SIRE 2.0 progress.
- Financial update, including the 2022 budget and the five-year financial plan.
- Principal and Functional Committee updates.
The next ExCom meeting is scheduled for 9 June 2022 in the USA.
ExCom attendees, including incoming Managing Director Karen Davis and Chair Mark Ross (centre).
Annual General Meeting
The 43rd AGM was held remotely on 8 December 2021. After a welcome and introduction from the Chair Mark Ross, the outgoing Managing Director provided a review of OCIMF activities in 2021 and the incoming Managing Director provided a look forward to 2022. Mark Ross (Chevron) was elected as the Chair, Luc Gilet (Total Energies) and Nick Potter (Shell) were elected as Vice Chairs. Heidi Aakre (Equinor), Abdulmohsen Al-Rabeeah (Saudi Aramco), Marc Bayer (Marathon Petroleum), Waddah Ghanem (ENOC), Luciano Maldonado (Petrobras), Kiyoshi Nogami (PIMA), Lambros Klaoudatos (BP), Andre Kostelnik (IMT) and Chris Bulera (ConocoPhillips) were elected as members of ExCom.
Maritime Security Committee
The MSC held an intersessional meeting on 9 December. The agenda rounded off the year by reviewing the Key Performance Indicators set for 2021 and looking ahead to the challenges for the new year. The committee focused on developing the processes that will support proposed Maritime Security Threat Areas as part of the effort to replace the Indian Ocean High Risk Area. This will be an important deliverable for 2022.
At the meeting, the committee voted in Jose Parejo, Director of International Security at Cepsa, as the new MSC Chair, replacing Gonzalo Mera Truffini (YPF). The Committee also welcomed Sarah Thompson (Chevron) as a new Vice-Chair and wished Gonzalo much good fortune in his new role at SLOM.
If any member would like to nominate a representative to the MSC, please contact Russell Pegg, OCIMF Security Adviser, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Environmental Committee
The Environmental Committee held intercessional meeting 03A virtually on 6 December. The Chair is Sebastien Roche (Total) and the Vice Chair is Holly Thomas (Woodside).
This meeting aimed to continue the group’s work in between formal meetings. The committee:
- Reviewed progress on their short-term actions with positive progress reported in all four strategic areas.
- Discussed planning for their next meeting in early 2022 and determining next actions to be addressed.
- Reviewed outcomes of recent COP26 and IMO meetings.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2 March 2022, format to be confirmed.
For enquiries, contact Ricardo Martinez, OCIMF Engineering Adviser This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
IMO updates
32nd meeting of the IMO Assembly
The meeting was held 6–15 December. It adopted updates to the IMO’s six-year and two-year work plans, as well as the following assembly resolutions, which OCIMF actively supported in their development:
- Prevention and suppression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the Gulf of Guinea
- Comprehensive action to address seafarers’ challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic
The meeting adopted updates to survey guidelines, PSC guidelines, Vessel Traffic Service guidelines and resolutions on legal matters, e.g. fraudulent registration, interpretation on when shipowners lose the limitation of liability.
The meeting also approved the IMO’s budget, reformation of the IMO council and technical cooperation activities and elected the new IMO Council members for 2022–23.
8th meeting of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction
The meeting will be held 17–21 January 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sub-committee could not meet in 2021, so this is the first meeting since February 2020. Key issues for OCIMF will be:
- Safety standards for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel (offshore workers) (IP Code).
- Interpretation of ballast tank access arrangements.
- Fuel service tank arrangements.
- Underwater noise.
The meeting will also discuss intact stability, void space coatings, the asbestos ban on Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU).
The Maritime Safety Committee instructed the meeting to consider the scope of application of the Emergency Towing Arrangements. Currently, the requirement applies to tankers of 20,000 dwt or above only, but the instruction was to consider applying the requirement to other ship types.
The meeting will also review the functional requirements on the electrical arrangements in the SOLAS Convention.
For more information, visit the IMO section on the member-only area of the OCIMF website.