Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.22 (September 2000)

Bulletin No.22 - September 2000

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 web site from the link at the bottom of this page.

Implementing the Code

The Department circulated to all CHAs at the end of June an enquiry about progress with implementing the Code. Returns were due by 31 August and there has been a substantial response by that date - some more are expected.

So far, reports are most encouraging, indicating that the industry is ahead of expected progress. Virtually every authority responding has already embarked on risk assessment. Many note the likely time commitment for their staff and progress may therefore slow in the coming months; but virtually every authority is confident at this stage of completing implementation by the end of 2001.

For reasons explained in the previous bulletin, monitoring is concentrated on CHAs for practical reasons. Reports from some non-CHAs have also been welcomed.

A summary report on progress, mainly for the purpose of identifying any issues emerging from responses, is being prepared for circulation to representative bodies.

Occupational standards

The last bulletin reported that the national occupational standard for pilots was accredited in July. DETR is supporting the printing, which BPIT is now arranging. Further work is needed on statements of generic and local knowledge to be published as a separate booklet. The group working on the harbour master standard is due to meet next on 19 September prior to releasing their draft for general comment.

The next step on pilotage is to develop assessment criteria - both for authorisations and exemptions. It had been hoped to begin by now a survey of present practice, but preparatory discussions with the port associations had to be held over the holiday season. Further details on this part of the project, and copies of available drafts, are obtainable from BPIT (e-mail info@bpit.co.uk).

Guide to Good Practice

The first draft of this document was circulated with a deadline for initial comments of 31 August. Copies may be downloaded freely from the Department's web site.

Chapters on consultation and accountability were circulated subsequently.

Comments are requested on these further draft chapters by 30 September 2000.

The Department will now lead drafting of a further chapter on environmental management but that will not be available before October.

These further chapters will be added to the web site as drafts are released.

The responses so far from harbour authorities is again very positive - with a widespread view that the draft is well-pitched and serviceable. There is more concern to be addressed from some other interests - perhaps partly about how prescriptive the guidance was intended to be.

The Department will consider all the comments carefully during September. It may be appropriate to offer a discussion to some interests with particular concerns. The aim will be to produce an account of the consultation exercise, and if possible a further draft, by mid-October (prior to the next meeting of representative bodies).

Possible legislation

The Department is considering responses to a consultation paper on the proposals for port marine safety related legislation included in the Review of the Pilotage Act 1987. A further note will issue once a firm conclusion has been reached about these.

As reported last month, the Department has also issued a consultation paper on port-related legislation, dealing with various corporate governance proposals in the reviews of pilotage and trust ports.

Copies are available from the usual contacts in Ports Division.

Comments are requested on this paper by 30 September 2000.

Representative bodies

The next meeting of national representative bodies with whom the Department is working on this project has been scheduled for 18 October. Invitations will be issued shortly.

Seminars

The Code project will be presented in different ways to a north east trust ports seminar in Newcastle on 28 September; to the Nautical Institute London Branch on 11 October (space limited), to the UKHMA seminar in London on 1 November (which usually sells out), and to NUMAST's Ship Masters' Forum in Wallasey on 12 December.

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