Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.15 (February 2000)

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Bulletin No.15 - February 2000

This is the fifteenth of a series of monthly bulletins issued by the Department to report progress with development of a Port Marine Safety Code, 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 such a Code should be developed, covering all port marine 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 gives a monthly summary of progress with the Code project, which 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 Good Guide 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 providing copious port and seafaring experience at a high level.

Publication

It is planned that Keith Hill, Minister for Shipping, will publish the Port Marine Safety Code on 13 March.

The final version is now being prepared for printing, and it is hoped that the next bulletin will contain guidance for obtaining printed copies from the Stationery Office; and from the Department's website.

A copy will be sent to all competent harbour authorities, with details of the timetable for implementation.

Consultation

Representative bodies have been kept informed through periodic meetings at which key issues can be discussed. The last meeting prior to finalising the text was on 17 January. The next one will immediately follow publication on 13 March.

The meeting on 17 January covered a range of project-related issues -

STCW31 - the meeting in January was not able to finalise action on the IMO Assembly Resolution on pilotage; which will now be done by NAV46 (in June) and STCW32 (in January 2001).

EC - DGVII are preparing proposals on the provision of port services following the recent Green Paper on Ports and Maritime Infrastructure. DETR has presented the Code to them.

Competent harbour authorities - a consultation paper was presented on the need for some CHAs to retain pilotage powers. Copies are obtainable from, and comments should be sent to, Cameron Clark (at the above address: the deadline for comment is not later than 31 March 2000.

Possible legislation - the review of the Pilotage Act made several proposals requiring legislation: a consultation paper on these will be presented at the meeting on 13 March.

Competence Standards

British Ports Industry Training have undertaken a separate consultation on a draft national occupational standard for marine pilots. These are obtainable from them at -

8 Kings Court, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7SG
tel:- 01638 616161
fax:- 01638 616160
e-mail:- info@bpit.co.uk

It is hoped to submit a final text for accreditation as soon as an assessment strategy has been completed. A decision is also to be taken on the proposed level in the NVQ framework.

Plans are being made to commence work on a draft national occupational standard for harbour masters: a Steering Group is being assembled by BPIT and will meet first on 2 March.

A separate group will be set up by the Department and BPIT to prepare national guidelines on PEC awards.

Guide to Good Practice

A group of senior port managers has undertaken to assemble material for a Guide to Good Practice on Marine Operations. They will review responses to the recent consultation exercise at a meeting on 10 February.

Presentations

The Department made a second presentation of the project to IMO's STCW31. Future engagements include the BPA's south-west ports committee (end February); and the European Marine Pilots Association (end March).

A further UKHMA seminar is being held on 5 April concentrating on the Guide to Good Practice. The afternoon session is on the New National Contingency Plan for marine pollution from ships. Places are likely to be at a premium again, even though extra space is being sought.

Requests will be entertained to make other presentations as part of the publication phase of the Code project.