Marine Operations Code for Ports: Bulletin No.2 (January 1999)
Bulletin No.2 - January 1999
This is the second of a series of monthly bulletins which the Department intends to issue to report progress with development of a Marine Operations Code for Ports, following recommendations in the Department's review of the Pilotage Act. Copies of bulletins will be made available on request.
Background
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 a "Marine Operations Code for Ports" should be developed, covering all port safety functions, and not just pilotage. The first bulletin, issued in December 1998, reported progress to date.
It is hoped to make substantial progress with the Code by mid-1999.
Formal Safety Assessment and Passage Planning
The first bulletin reported that several papers have been submitted on formal safety assessment and passage planning.
A meeting is arranged for 13 January with seven individuals experienced in the principles of safety assessment and management to discuss the approach to be used in the Code.
It will not be a purpose of the meeting to discuss detail. Four main aims are proposed -
- to review the applicability of available regulations and guidance and the extent to which these may need to be adapted for port navigation
- to discuss generally the level of detail which should be offered in the Code - or elsewhere
- to take a first look at what strategy might be appropriate for selling the concept of safety assessment to a wide range of harbour authorities, port personnel and users
- to agree a way forward.
The outcome will be reported in the next bulletin. If the meeting is successful, another similar one will be convened in February on passage planning.
Training
Discussions have opened with the British Ports Industry Training Organisation, who are considering plans to develop a comprehensive technical standard in support of the Code, and whether this might also eventually underpin a qualification in port navigation.
Drafting the Code
A first outline of the Code has been circulated to representative bodies with an invitation to comment on content by the end of February. Copies of the outline will be provided on request and comments are welcome from all comers. The outline includes a summary of harbour authorities' legal responsibilities for safety of navigation, and a first draft on the Code's reporting requirements, but is otherwise almost confined to chapter headings.
Meeting with Representative Bodies
The Department hopes to hold a second meeting with representative bodies at the end of February, towards the end of the period for consultation on the outline. It is hoped then to report progress on formal safety assessment, passage planning, training, and performance measures.
Briefings
A couple of briefings have been arranged for interested organisations during January: the Department remains ready to undertake similar engagements to those already held or arranged to report progress with the work on the Code.
