Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.17 (April 2000)

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Bulletin No.17 - April 2000

This is the seventeenth 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 above 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

The Port Marine Safety Code has now been published.

Copies of the Code (ISBN 1 85112 365 2) will be priced at £10.

The publications home page contains information on how and where you can obtain publications produced by the Department for Transport.

There is no e-mail ordering facility at present.

A copy of the Code will be sent to all competent harbour authorities, with details of the timetable for implementation. An additional selected free distribution will also be made (please do not apply!).

Consultation

Representative bodies have been kept informed through periodic meetings at which key issues can be discussed. The last one immediately followed publication on 13 March. The next one is in London on 21 June. Membership of this group is under review but proposed changes need to be discussed and cannot therefore be implemented before the next meeting.

The meeting will address the following items:

Publication and implementation - A proposal was made that a series of meetings might be held 'around the coast' - perhaps hosted by the maritime colleges, during May and June. The meetings would be open, with priority given to harbour authority personnel (including those who work in ports). Expressions of interest are invited to the above address by 14 April so that a programme can be designed.

Competence Standards - British Ports Industry Training have submitted a draft national occupational standard for marine pilots for QCA accreditation - expected to be given in May.

Work has started (at a meeting on 2 March on a standard for harbour masters) and a second meeting is scheduled for 6 April prior to wider consultation.

Copies of available drafts are obtainable from them at:

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

BPIT has obtained DfEE funding for a project with the industry and maritime colleges for development work on courses related to the emerging standards.

Guide to Good Practice

A representative group of harbour masters has undertaken to assemble material for a Guide to Good Practice on Marine Operations. Consultation will commence at the UKHMA seminar on 5 April (see below) but will not be limited to harbour masters.

Possible legislation - the review of the Pilotage Act made several proposals requiring legislation: a consultation paper was trailed at the meeting on 13 March and is available thereafter from the above contact addresses.

Presentations

(See above.) The Department made a presentation to the European Maritime Pilots' Association on 30 March, in Antwerp. A UKHMA seminar is being held on 5 April concentrating on the Guide to Good Practice. The afternoon is devoted to the New National Contingency Plan for marine pollution from ships. A presentation is planned for Channel Island harbour authorities on 14 April; and for BPA's Scottish Committee on 22 June. Consideration is being given to meetings with MCA's District Marine Safety Committees.