Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.19 (June 2000)

Bulletin No.19 - June 2000

This is the nineteenth 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, 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.

Port Marine Safety Code

The Port Marine Safety Code has now been published.

Copies of the Code (ISBN 1 85112 365 2) are 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.

It is also possible to view and download the Code from the Department's website from a link at the bottom of this page.

The Department has published monthly bulletins on this project up to the publication of the Port Marine Safety Code. The last bulletin invited comment on a new format for future issues. This bulletin is therefore an interim version to maintain continuity.

Demand has been heavy and the initial print run is exhausted. Further supplies are being produced urgently but orders may be slightly delayed meantime.

Occupational standards

The pilotage standards are in the process of being accredited; this formal approval from the UK's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is anticipated in July. A copy of the final version is downloadable from BPIT's web site at: http://www.bpit.co.uk

Discussions are also taking place with the UK Pilots' Association the UKPA(M) with a view to agreeing a suitable format for a qualification, based on the occupational standards. A Steering Group consisting of 24 industry experts is currently developing the standards for Harbour Masters. Draft versions will be placed on BPIT's web site and updated frequently. The latest version includes all the unit and element titles, together with descriptive summaries for each.

Work will commence later in the year on national guidelines for pilotage exemption, as will the development of occupational standards for Port Control operations.

For any further advice or guidance, please e-mail Bob Jones at BPIT:
bob@bpit.co.uk

Guide to Good Practice

Preparations are being made to begin open consultation on a first draft of the Guide during June contributions will be sought as widely as possible.

Possible legislation

The last bulletin invited comment on a consultation paper and responses are being analysed.

Representative bodies

The next meeting of national representative bodies with whom the Department is working on this project is on 21 June.

Ports Division
Department for Transport,
Zone 2/29,
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

Tel: 020 7944 5069
Fax: 020 7944 2188
e-mail: andrew.burr@dft.gsi.gov.uk