Loss Prevention Onboard Training Programmes and Courses

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Claims arising out of collision, grounding and damage to docks and mooring facilities, while not occurring with the frequency of some other categories of claim, very often result in major losses, including loss of life, major property damage and pollution. It is perhaps not surprising that claims involving navigation of a vessel are particularly associated with human error.

The managers have sponsored the production of a series of three training videos and associated written material, to highlight the risks associated with poor bridge procedures, and to provide material for on-board training in this area.

This series looks closely at ways of safeguarding and improving the personal safety of everyone on board ship. Its overall objective is to reduce the number of personal injuries that occur on board. The series consists of 11 individual video programmes and is accompanied by a comprehensive booklet. There are five core videos which cover safety issues relevant to all ship operations, and six which deal with specific types of Vessels.

The five core videos are:-

• The Shipboard Management Role
• Personal Safety in the Engine Room
• Personal Safety in the Accommodation
• Personal Safety in the Galley
• Personal Safety on Deck

The first of these is for offices and shoreside management, and offers particular guidance upon the supervision and management of crewmembers, in training and accident prevention, and in the appropriate administrative and investigative steps to be taken if an injury occurs. The other four are intended to be shown to crewmembers, as part of their training and cover the risks which may arise in areas common to all ships.

The remaining six vessel specific videos are also intended for crewmembers:

• Personal Safety on Bulk Carriers
• Personal Safety on General Cargo Ships
• Personal Safety on Container Ships
• Personal Safety on Tankers
• Personal Safety on Car Carriers & RoRos
• Personal Safety on Passenger Ships

There have been a number of accidents involving lifeboats fitted with on-load release gear resulting in loss of life and serious injury. This video explains the operation of on-load release gear using graphics and animation, and illustrates the correct method of operation of this equipment in the context of a lifeboat drill.

The programme comprises three videos:

• Prevention and Reaction to Marine Oil Spills under MARPOL
• Prevention and Reaction to Marine Oil Spills under OPA
• Prevention and Reaction to Marine Oil Spills: The Seafarers Role

The consequences of an oil spill can be enormous, both to the shipowner and the environment. This series of videos is designed to examine some of the practical considerations of both international and U.S. legislation governing the carriage of oil cargo and the practical measures that can be taken both on board and ashore to reduce the likelihood and impact of oil spills. The series is accompanied by a comprehensive booklet.

This series of nine linked video modules is designed to encourage seafarers not just to use PPE, but to use it properly. An introductory module stresses that safety is ultimately a personal responsibility. Each of the other eight modules covers a specific type of protective equipment:

• Head Protection
• Hand and Arm Protection
• Eye Protection
• Ear Protection
• Protection of the Body
• Respiratory for the Body
• Foot Protection
• Safety Harnesses

This series consists of 6 packages and meets the requirement for seafarers to learn about management. Ships need to operate profitably and much of this is down to the shipboard management team. Knowledge of management techniques can improve efficiency.

The parts of this series are called:

• Part 1 - Management on Board
• Part 2 - Get SMART!: Organisation and Planning
• Part 3 - Get Results!: Planning for Profit
• Part 4 - Teamwork
• Part 5 - Motivating Individuals
• Part 6 - Communication.

For many years, the Club has recognised that human error is a predominant cause of claims. As increasingly more complex ships operate in an ever more regulated environment, the effect of error can be significant and often dramatic. An isolated act of carelessness, such as failing to follow a procedure correctly, or simple ignorance of the correct procedure itself, can easily result in substantial claims, and commercial losses.

Human error often reflects a lack of training. In shipping operations, training matters because it can substantially reduce the likelihood of accidents, claims, and exposure to uninsured loss.

This video reflects the Clubs strongly held view on why training matters, and why it is increasingly important for owners to adopt a structured approach to this aspect of their operations.

The exchange of information that is associated with the proper completion of the ship-shore safety check list should enable the loading or discharge of the vessel to be undertaken in the confidence that the opportunity for mishap has been substantially reduced.

As this training package makes clear, this does not mean just sitting down and ticking boxes, it requires a full tour of inspection to ensure that all values, flanges, pumps and other items are correctly positioned and working properly.

Fundamental areas where serious problems can arise include mooring arrangements, communications procedures and pump room valves. The package includes references to actual case studies where serious damage to terminal equipment or harbour pollution has resulted, despite the relevant checklist items having been signed off.

These incidents have led to the owners of the vessels involved incurring substantial financial penalties.

The package also makes clear that checking that a procedure is being followed safely is not something you do only once. The checking process must continue right to the end of the cargo operation. Effective and incident free loading and discharge means constant vigilance by both ship and shore staff.

This training package looks at the legislative background and its terminology and compares and contrasts the Vector and Raster systems.

ECS (electronic chart systems) is a general term often widely used to refer to any system of navigation using electronics and computers to help plot and track a vessel's position in relation to land, charted objects and hazards. Many people use ECS as the common term covering both electronic charts and the computer equipment used to display them.

However, only two types of electronic chart are recognised as meeting the SOLAS requirements for safe navigation: an officially approved vector chart, known as an ENC (Electronic Navigation Chart), and an officially approved raster chart, known as an RNC (Raster Navigational Chart). Raster charts are made by photographing or digitally scanning paper charts then storing them as computer images. Although raster electronic charts do not have the same versatility or 'intelligence' as vector charts, they are easier to produce. Their main advantage is that it is an exact reproduction of the paper chart from which it is copied.

Vector charts are produced electronically and will contain different symbols and colours from the familiar paper chart. These charts are seamless and can be interrogated for additional information - data layers can be removed or adjusted by the watchkeeping officer, so that the display never becomes cluttered when information is added.

The package also emphasises that to operate these systems effectively requires good training. Training is necessary to take full advantage of many features available and also to appreciate the risks associated with their use. In addition no deck officer should forget that traditional watchkeeping skills remain crucial to safe navigation.

This training package, comprising a video and supporting booklet, is designed to highlight the need for every member of the crew to take active responsibility for safety, and to eradicate unsafe acts and conditions. It shows the approach that is needed to achieve this, and encourages the adoption of a no blame culture.

The programme is directed towards everyone who works on board a ship, any kind of ship, because the responsibility for safety is collective.

In order to deal with the issue of motivation, the programme directly addresses the key question "What's in it for me?" It examines the personal consequences of accidents - injury, loss of livelihood, family problems, increased workload, even prosecution. It examines critically who is responsible for safety on a ship - it is not just the safety officer.

It is essential that the practical application of the Code is not seen to be simply an administrative chore. Are hazardous occurrences and non conformities within the Ship's Safety Management System being reported? If they are not, is it because of fear about potential repercussions? Whilst such concern is understandable in the litigious climate in which the shipping industry operates, it is vitally important that the hazardous occurrences and non conformities are reported and properly investigated. Only if this is done will it be possible to tackle the underlying cause such that safety is positively improved.

This package, consisting of a video and workbook or a CD-ROM, is directed principally at shore and shipboard personnel down to junior officer level. The programme is designed to emphasise the importance of the ISM Code in the safe and economic operation of ships, including pollution prevention and environmental protection. It shows how it can be used to form the basis of an effective Safety Management System. It highlights the need for everyone involved, on the ship and the shore, to take responsibility for safety on an on-going basis and demonstrates the approach that is needed to achieve this. The programme also covers what needs to be done when problems arise.

This new training package, comprising a video and accompanying booklet, stresses the importance of ensuring that all cargo is properly stowed and secured before setting out to sea. While in many ports the work is mostly undertaken by stevedores, the ships' officers must understand the methods and techniques that should be used and the reasoning behind them, and make sure that they are applied correctly and thoroughly. The program also emphasises the importance of the IMO Code and Guidelines that relate to this topic. They are an essential guide for seafarers to the securing arrangements of all types of cargo.

The package looks at the different forces acting on the cargo according to the movement of the ship and at the various methods of stowage and securing including the use of mats and dunnage to improve friction and systems of securing and lashing with steel rope, chains or turnbuckles. The video includes contributions from many of those involved in the cargo operations including a Cargo Superintendent. He indicates some of the common problems with particular cargoes and points out the benefit of quayside checks to ensure that, where possible, some of the problems are resolved before they are brought on board.

This package supports international standards of training based on the STCW Code Table A-II/1.

Port State Control is an increasingly important measure for the elimination of sub-standard ships and if a vessel is found to have deficiencies or is detained as a result of failing a port state inspection, this may have adverse commercial implications.

This training package is intended to help ship operators, Masters and officers understand how Port State Control works, and stresses the importance of maintaining vessels in accordance with International Conventions. While Flag administrations and Classification Societies have an important role to play in supervising the safe operation and examining the structural condition of ships, it is the responsibility of the Master and crew to ensure on a daily basis that they are complying with all the relevant Codes and Conventions.

There are three sections: Learn about Port State Control, Go for an Inspection, and a Test. The first section comprises a short history of Port State Control, information about the way Port State Control is structured, and details of the inspection process itself. The Inspection section puts the user in the Port State Control Officer's shoes, inspecting key areas of a ship and identifying a number of deficiencies. Real PSCOs provide feedback on faults of this type. There is also a complete video featuring Port State Control Officers talking about each area of the ship. The short test is a set of questions designed to find out just how much you know about Port State Control.

Full use of the information contained in this package should help management, Masters and crews to reduce the chance of their ships being detained as a result of Port State Control inspection. This package supports international standards of training based on STCW Code Tables A-II/2 and III/2.

The objective of this training package is to examine how poor awareness of human factors can lead to errors in navigation at sea. It is suitable for BRM exercises on board ship or it can be used in BRM courses in colleges and training centres. The package, which is available in either video or CD format, comprises reconstructions of five situations that led to navigational difficulties together with a guide. Each of the reconstructions is between five and eight minutes long.

Each of the five case studies on the video shows an incident that results either in a collision or a near miss. They all begin with a normal, everyday situation that, for a variety of reasons, goes wrong. They are based on features of real accidents and near misses. In each case study you will see the bridge team reacting to events as they unfold. The objective is to explore the mistakes, misunderstandings, inaccuracies and slip-ups that occur everyday - even among the best-trained and most competent watch keepers.

It is suggested that the best use of the package is for small groups of deck officers to watch each case study separately. Then, with the help of the guide, they can discuss what went wrong in that particular case study. For each case study, the guide contains questions for the users to discuss and suggested answers to these questions, which users can compare with their own ideas. It is also suggested that officers consider how to relate their conclusions about the situation shown in the case study to bridge resource management on their own ship.

It is expected that there will be different views among the audience but, through the ensuing discussion, various features of bridge resource management should be brought out that may not have occurred to the individuals taking part. By making everyone involved aware of the complexity of human interaction and the many things that can go wrong, officers will be made more aware of the importance of bridge resource management and how to avoid critical situations developing while they are on watch. This package supports the requirements of the STCW Code, Tables A-II /1 and A-II /2. 

In recent years, environmental awareness has grown significantly. Many major companies have responded by establishing an environmental policy and implementing programmes to minimise the impact of their operations on the planet. However, as green issues have attracted more attention, it has become apparent that businesses must show just how effective they are in meeting their stated environmental targets. For this reason, companies are increasingly adopting IS0 14001 to demonstrate and verify their green credentials.

This new, interactive, CD-ROM entitled IS0 14001 Environmental Management, has been specifically designed to help mariners understand what the IS0 14001 standard is and, most crucially, provide practical help in applying the companys environmental management policy on individual ships. IS0 14001 provides a company wide approach to environmental management and includes a commitment to ongoing improvements in performance.

The course is divided into five modules:

        Module 1 covers the main principles that underpin an effective environmental management policy.

        Module 2 defines environmental aspects and impacts of shipping operations and explains how to identify them.

        Module 3 shows what is required for the initial environmental review and gives practical tips on how to conduct the review successfully.

        Module 4 looks at how to set environmental targets and objectives and how to benchmark them.

        Module 5 considers the measurement and documentation a company needs to be able to demonstrate its compliance with its own environmental policy.

As well as providing an overview of the IS0 14001 process, the course also provides a wealth of practical examples that can be applied directly on board ship. The course can be taken informally without accreditation, but it has been designed to lead to a certified qualification from the Nautical Institute. Further details about the accreditation programme are available within the CD-ROM. The package is aimed at all shipping company personnel who are involved in environmental management, but it will be of particular interest to officers on board ship.

The updated series on moorings comprises three video programmes and accompanying booklet. Each video deals with a separate aspect of mooring.

Theory of Mooring
This package explains that the objective of a mooring system is to ensure that the ship lies securely alongside, no matter how the weather, the waves or currents may affect her. It examines the various forces acting upon a moored ship in the transverse, longitudinal and vertical directions.

The package explains the interaction between these forces and shows how they need to be taken into account when deciding on the most appropriate mooring scheme. Typical mooring schemes are shown.

Load sharing is discussed between wire and synthetic fibre ropes, the effect on holding power of line length and orientation is examined.

Finally, the difference between static and dynamic loading is dealt with and the importance of attending the moorings at all times is emphasised.

Safe Mooring Practice
This package illustrates how mooring schemes are devised and applied safely . It begins by explaining the function of mooring and how most typical mooring schemes are arrived at, showing the information sources which exist for most ports round the world. A typical mooring scheme is shown and procedures for mooring are explained.

Practical details and safeguards of mooring are shown, paying particular attention to cases where wires and synthetic fibre ropes are mixed. The handling of high modulus synthetic fibre ropes is discussed.

The video then discusses the recommended command structure between the master, the pilot and the mooring parties fore and aft, during mooring operations. The same command structure is discussed where tug operations are part of the mooring operation, either on escort duty or in tug-assisted mooring. The operating procedures for hydraulic and electrically powered winches are illustrated.

The role of the supervising officer at the mooring platform is critical, particularly in ensuring that all members of the mooring party remain outside the danger zones of each applied mooring scheme . The safe handling of tug lines is discussed in the context of making fast and letting go of the tug lines. The use of stoppers is shown. The package emphasises the safety aspects at all stages.

Maintenance of Mooring Systems
This package is designed to show some of the maintenance work which should be carried out during a voyage to ensure that the mooring system will work without fail at the next port.

The mooring system must be in a position to cope with the foreseeable demands that are likely to be placed upon it at any time.

Some of the most important tasks involved in mooring system maintenance are indicated as they relate to hydraulic and electrically powered winches. The ship's maintenance schedule should include periodic inspection of ropes, wires, shackles, stoppers, winches and other parts of the system, such as fairleads.

A significant maintenance operation is the periodic testing of winch brakes. A recommended testing process is illustrated. Care of the ropes and wires including their safe storage is detailed.

This series supports the requirements of STCW Code, Table A-II/1 .

The international community has been concerned about the atmospheric pollution from merchant shipping for some years. Though the merchant shipping industry has always sought to adhere to the highest environmental standards, the burning of heavy fuel oils has had a significant impact on the levels of air pollution worldwide. As a result, in 1997 the member states of the IMO proposed that strict limitations on the emissions of oxides of sulphur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) and on ozone depleting substances should be introduced. This was to become Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention. Having achieved widespread support, it has been ratified and enters into force on the 19th May 2005. (PDF) - (view datasheet)

Safe anchoring is one of the most critical skills of good seamanship. It is also one of the most basic. Worldwide though, the past twenty years have witnessed over a thousand sometimes fatal, always costly anchor related incidents at sea. In particular, this relates to large vessels and VLCCs. Anchors have been let go in the wrong place, at the wrong time and in the wrong way. Windlasses have been shattered. Anchors and cable have been lost. Vessels have been stranded, beached and run aground. Lives have been lost. These examples raise the question of whether the design limits, and the proper maintenance and use of both windlass and associated anchoring equipment, are sometimes misunderstood by those responsible for their ship's safety. (PDF) - (view datasheet)