Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.10 (September 1999)

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Bulletin No.10 - September 1999

This is the tenth of a series of monthly bulletins issued by the Department to report progress with development of a Marine Operations Code for Ports, following recommendations in the Department's review of the Pilotage Act. The review of the Pilotage Act 1987 followed a Marine Accident Investigation Branch report on the SEA EMPRESS. The report's main proposal was that a "Marine Operations Code for Ports" should be developed, covering all port safety functions, and not just pilotage. Enquiries, contributions and comments (including e-mails) may be made to Andrew Burr, Colin Morris, Cameron Clark or Jackie Shaw at the previous address.

This Bulletin is now widely circulated and attracts frequent enquiries about the content of the Code itself. Since some enquirers have not been in on the story from the beginning, and some difficulty has been reported with access to the website holding previous issues, this edition repeats the summary last time of the components of the Code project. It is in three parts:-

  • The Code itself, setting a standard for the discharge of duties and powers of harbour authorities
  • Competence Standards, for all disciplines managing the safety of port navigation
  • A Guide to Best Practice, giving operational guidance on the requirements of the Code.

The project is led by the Department with help from ad hoc groups of professionals from the industry.

Representative bodies are kept informed through periodic meetings at which key issues can be discussed. Attendance at these meetings - and support for ad hoc groups - is good and at a high level. There have been three such meetings so far. The last was on 16 July, and this bulletin records the outcome; the next meeting is on 16 September.

The Code

The latest draft of the Code was completed at the end of June and was circulated to those who have been contributing to the project for comment by the end of August. There has been a good response. Comments will be summarised - with a response - in a paper in preparation, which will advertised in the next Bulletin. It will be released first to representative bodies at a meeting on 16 September.

Chapters have still to be drafted on -

  • harbour craft, including towage pilot launches, line boats, etc
  • performance measurement and audit.

Competence Standards

British Ports Industry Training is developing the competence standards. A steering group has met on 8 June and 21 July. The next meeting is on 29 September.

This part of the project is concentrating initially on standards for marine pilots. Extending the project will be discussed with BPIT's board shortly.

IMO's Ship/Port Interface Working Group has considered this month the need for minimum standards for education and training of port marine personnel, and has been made aware of the UK's work. It is recommending that the development of standards be pursued.

IMO's NAV Committee, convening later this month, will consider the STCW recommendation on marine pilot training.

Best Practice Guide

A group of senior port managers has undertaken to assemble material for a best practice guide. Their comments on the Code include suggestions for dividing material between the Code and the Guide. The Group will next meet on 15 September, and their work will be reported to representative bodies the following day.

Consultation

It is hoped to have a complete draft of the Code for consultation by mid-October. The competence standards and the Best Practice Guide are planned to be in a form for wider consultation at the same time. The aim is to settle the text of the Code by the end of 1999, although the project is likely to run until Easter 2000.

Next Steps

The meeting on 16 September will include a substantive discussion on pilotage and pilotage exemption.

There will also be reports on the three project elements and on comments received on the draft Code. The planned timetable will be reviewed.

Presentations

A series of presentations is planned during the consultation period on the full draft of the Code (mid-October to end-November). A presentation will be made to the BPA Conference (in Douglas) on 7 October. UKHMA have announced a seminar to be held in London on 9 November. This is being supported by the Nautical Institute and the Institute of Marine Engineers. A session has been proposed for the UKPA Conference in the same week, also in London.

Additional suggestions will be considered particularly if they allow access to interests not otherwise well covered.