Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.27 (February 2001)

Bulletin No.27 - February 2001

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.

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

The Department has circulated a further package of documents to harbour authorities and representative bodies. Copies are available on request by e-mail.

General progress

Authorities have been invited to report if they have encountered new problems likely to impede their implementation of the Code. So far, none has. It appears that implementation of the Code is generally well in hand.

As previously noted, the British Ports Association is collecting from its members examples on good practice, especially on risk assessment. They would be happy to provide more information about what is available on request by any harbour authority implementing the Code.

Occupational standards

As previously reported, the national occupational standard for pilots was accredited in July. It is available from BPIT. Further work is in progress on statements of generic and local knowledge to be published as a separate booklet. BPIT have also co-ordinated the development of a proposed syllabus for marine pilot training. It is based on the accredited standard. It is proposed to consult on its application.

Assessment criteria

Assessment criteria need to be developed to enable the recently accredited national occupational standards for pilots to be brought into use and thus to implement MAIB's recommendations in the report on the SEA EMPRESS. It has been proposed to develop in parallel competence and assessment guidelines for pilotage exemption

The Department has received useful information from some of the harbour masters who assisted with development of the pilot occupational standard about how it relates to the local determination of qualifications for pilot authorisations.

Other standards

BPIT await a decision on funding from QCA (due this month) before proceeding further with harbour master standards. The group working on this project has not therefore met recently although BPIT are progressing work on the draft with the object being to agree it with the group and releasing their draft for general comment. Further details on this part of the project, and copies of available drafts, are obtainable from BPIT (e-mail info@bpit.co.uk).

VTS

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has accredited South Tyneside College, Faculty of Nautical Science for their course for the training of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) operators. This is the first training institute world-wide to be accredited to IALA recommendation V-103 standards by a national competent authority. Details are available from MCA (web site address www.mcga.gov.uk )

It is also hoped to resume work on a standard related to the recent work on VTS training, once QCA funding has been confirmed.

Tugs

The MCA have set up a working group on inshore tugs - minimum safe manning and hours of work, whose work is relevant to the Code. The contact for information is Tony Drury at MCA HQ.

Guide to Good Practice

The Department has issued a second draft of the Guide to Good Practice on Port Marine Operations. This document is now available on the DfT web site - the delay in achieving this is regretted.

It was proposed to take a phased approach to responses to this draft, with the sections on accountability, consultation and safety management systems having priority. So far, comments received are limited (examples of good practice even more so.)

These now have to be relaxed because Andrew Burr will be away from the office for several weeks after surgery. Cameron Clark will cover the Port Marine Safety Code work. Jackie Shaw would welcome comments on the second draft as they are ready, for incorporation in the next working draft; but substantive work on the next version may not resume until April.

Presentations

The Department is beginning a series of regional seminars on the ports policy paper, Modern Ports, with two in March (Durham and Liverpool). Others will be later in the Spring. These events are mainly aimed at the Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies, local authorities and harbour authorities. Enquiries should be directed to Cameron Clark.

PSO and HSE plan a national seminar in London on health and safety in docks on 12 March, aimed mainly at senior port management - enquiries should be made to the Port Safety Organisation. The Department will provide a progress report on the Code and matters of related interest at the UKHMA seminar in London on 21 March.