Q. What is the objective of OCIMF? How is it related to environmental issues?
Ans. The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies. The objective is to ensure safe and environmentally responsible operation of oil tankers and terminals, promoting continuous improvement in standards of design and operation. OCIMF was formed in London in 1970 subsequent to the Torrey Canyon incident & the public awareness thereafter
Q. How is the functioning governed?
Ans. OCIMF has 98 companies worldwide. The Chairman as well as the three Vice-Chairmen are elected at the Annual General Meeting of OCIMF member companies. There is an Executive Committee plus three senior standing committees who report to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee makes policies. The membership of the Executive Committee is limited to a maximum of 15 members plus the Chairman and Vice Chairmen who are ex officio members. The work of OCIMF is carried out through four main Committees, work groups and task forces and Secretariat.
Q. How does OCIMF contribute towards policy making with other international bodies?
Ans. Recently, the organization has contributed to the debate on the accelerated phasing out of single-hull tankers and on the carriage of heavy grades of oil with EU & IMO. OCIMF works with the IMO and other regulatory bodies to develop conventions and regulations that enhance the safe construction and operation of oil tankers, barges, offshore support vessels and terminals.
Q. What are the various data collection tools provided by OCIMF?
Ans. The Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) program and Tanker Management and Self Assessment tool (TMSA), have gained worldwide recognition and acceptance. Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) is newer tool. Terminals inspection tool being the latest. Through these database, OCIMF provides charterers and authorities, data on tankers, barges and offshore support vessels relating to safety and pollution prevention.
Q. What are the different publications by OCIMF?
Ans. Following are some of the OCIMF’s publications:
- Competence Assurance Guidelines for Mooring, Loading and Lightening Masters.
- Anchoring Systems and Procedures.
- Competence Assurance Guidelines for FPSOs.
- Barge Safety (Liquefied Cargoes in Bulk).
- Clean Seas Guide for Oil Tankers.
- Contingency Planning and Crew Response Guide for Gas Carrier Damage at Sea and in Port Approaches.
- Disabled Tankers, Report of Studies on Ship Drift and Towage.
Q. What is SIRE? In what way SIRE program accelerates its continuing drive for safer ships and cleaner seas?
Ans. The SIRE Program is a unique tanker risk assessment tool of value to charterers, ship operators, terminal operators and government bodies concerned with ship safety. The SIRE system is a database of information about tankers and barges. There are thousands of report in database, for over 8000 vessels.
The SIRE program includes the following:
- Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ).
- Barges Inspection Questionnaire (BIQ).
- Uniform SIRE Inspection Report.
- Vessels Particulars Questionnaire (VPQ).
- Barge Particulars Questionnaire (BPQ).
These features are user friendly and provide transparency. OCIMF thus, leads the way to accelerating its continuing drive for safer ships and cleaner seas. 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. SIRE access is available, at a nominal cost, to OCIMF members, bulk oil terminal operators, port authorities, canal authorities, oil trader companies, etc, which charter the tankers/barges in their usual business. It is also available, free of charge, to Governmental bodies which supervise safety and/or pollution prevention in respect of oil tankers/barges.
Q. Explain the objective of SIGTTO with brief history.
Ans. The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) is an international organization formed to establish a framework of standards and best practice for companies, terminals and ships handling LNG and LPG. It has observer status at the IMO. SIGTTO was incorporated as a non-profit making company, started in 1979 with 13 members, involves itself with problems and troubleshooting rather than the commercial aspect. Secretariat of SIGTTO answers Technical queries from members on a range of topics. The Society now has more than 170 members. It is said that SIGTTO’s membership represents entire LNG businesses of world and over fifty percent of the LPG businesses.
Q. What are the different types of memberships?
Ans. There are three classes of membership.
- Full members: They own or operate assets and have voting rights
- Associate members: These are stakeholders which contribute to the safe running of the industry. Under extended scope, classification societies, tug operators and port authorities are also associate members.
- Non-contributory’ members: These are the Organizations like OCIMF, INTERTANKO or ICS.
Q. What are the different publications made by SIGTTO?
Ans. SIGTTO continuously develops ‘best practice guide publications’. They produce consistent operational levels and standards across the industry. Following is a long list of publications:
1. Liquefied Gas Handling Principles is an extremely valuable reference for the industry’s operational side. It deals with the safe handling of bulk liquid gases (LNG, LPG and chemical gases) on board ships and at the ship/shore interface at terminals.
2. Use of Insulation Flanges at the Ship/Shore and Ship/Ship Interface.
3. Evaluation of Firefighting Equipment on Liquefied Gas Jetties.
4. The Use of Hoses and Hard Arms at Marine Terminals Handling Liquefied Gas.
5. Application of Amendments to Gas Carrier Codes Concerning Type C Tank.
6. Avoidance of Stress Corrosion, etc with Liquefied Ammonia Cargoes. Practically, every aspect of gas industry operation is covered in the various publications. Thus, the various subject area being; Best Management Practices; CO2 Conversion Factors for Vessels using Liquefied Gases as Fuel; Contingency Planning; Crew Safety Standards; Training for Large LNG Carriers; ESD Arrangements & Linked Ship/ Shore Systems; Fire Prevention in the Cargo Containment Systems; Gas Concentrations in the Insulation Spaces of Membrane; Shipboard Odourisation of LPG; Design and Maintenance of cargo system; Pressure relief valves; Quantity Calculations LPG and Chemical Gases; Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases; Ship Vetting and its Application to LNG; Liquefied Chemical Gas Cargoes; and Ship-Shore Compatibility Questionnaire.
Q. What is INTERTANKO” Who can be the members?
Ans. INTERTANKO is the association of the owners of the independent tankers dedicated to achieving safe transport, cleaner seas and free competition. It is a valuable source of first-hand professional information, opinions and guidance. Members can be the independent tanker owners and operators of oil and chemical tankers, i.e. non-oil companies and non-state controlled tanker owners, who fulfill the Association’s membership criteria. INTERTANKO has over 210 members with over 3,600 tankers.
Q. How does INTERTANKO manage its activities?
Ans. A strong secretariat and a network of 12 committees and five regional panels provide an efficient infrastructure that coordinates an extensive work programme that deals with several and multifarious agenda items. INTERTANKO maintains relationships with legislators on all levels, working with them to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the responsibilities and liabilities involved in carrying oil and chemicals by sea. INTERTANKO has NGO status with International Maritime Organization and has consultative status at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development..
Q. How does INTERTANKO become a source of rich information to members and mariners?
Ans. INTERTANKO’s advisory services include weekly news, courses, seminars and free access to a range of web-based services. Members and associate members are also entitled to direct expert opinions from resourceful and experienced lawyers, mariners, naval architects, marine engineers, economists and other specialists within INTERTANKO.
Q. What is INTERCARGO? What is field of activity?
Ans. INTERCARGO or International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners works for the interests of owners, operators and managers of dry cargo shipping industry. It works closely with the other international associations to promote a safe, quality, efficient and environmentally friendly dry cargo shipping industry. It has Consultative status within the International Maritime Organisation. INTERCARGO also has professional relations with IMO, BIMCO, INTERTANKO and ICS. These organizations have round table conferences to maximize the benefit to members and avoid costly duplication of activity.
Q. What publications are offered by INTERCARGO?
Ans.
1 “Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region” is a publication developed with BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO, supported by NATO Shipping Centre.
2. A pocket guide published with Lloyd’s Register, the UK P&I Club, outlines the precautions to be taken before accepting solid bulk cargoes for shipment; sets out procedures for safe loading and carriage; details the primary hazards associated with different types of cargo; and underlines the importance of proper cargo declarations. The management of the residues of solid bulk cargoes depends primarily on the classification of a solid bulk cargo as to whether it is harmful to the marine environment (HME) or non-HME. Guide provides such guidance.
3. The cyber guidelines launched in 2016 are developed with BIMCO, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO. The guidelines deal with information on cyber security risks to ships enabling shipowners to take measures to protect themselves.
4. The INTERCARGO Bulk Carrier Casualty Report provides a list of reported losses of bulk carriers between years 2005 and 2015.
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