Please find attached OCIMF latest information paper, Recommendations on Usage of ECDIS and Preventing Incidents, which provides guidance to enhance policies and procedures regarding the safe use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).

With more vessels using Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for primary or secondary navigation, there have been several significant navigational incidents over the last decade where one of the contributing factors has been ECDIS-related. Recommendations on Usage of ECDIS and Preventing Incidents takes into account ECDIS-related navigational incident findings and safety-related observations from OCIMF’s Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE). To provide practical support and guidance, the information paper draws upon this analysis to provide recommendations for improving ECDIS-related practices and preventing ECDIS-related navigational incidents.

Key chapters in the information paper cover ECDIS carriage requirements, ECDIS training and familiarisation, passage planning and alarm management.

Our latest edition of our newsletter discusses the following topics;

- Good practice - PPE location
- AWPS - new COI tab disclosure
- Safe rigging of pilot ladders
- TORM MAREN Marine accident report
- Portable cargo hose testing
- Earth alarms on switchboards

This document is designed to give clear illustrated instructions on how pilot ladders MUST be secured in order to comply with SOLAS Regulations & IMO Resolutions.

AWP Marine Consultancy Ltd would be very interested to hear from existing OCIMF BIRE inspectors and/or EBIS inspectors based in the Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Antwerp region or candidates that meet the following requirements;

Location and Work Permit

Must be based in the Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Anterp region or able to locate to this area at their own cost and able to work in the EU without restriction

Certification

• Certificate of competency for Officers in charge of a navigation watch or as Master of a ship of less than 500 gross tonnage issued by recognised flag state, or

• Certificate of Competency as Second Engineer issued by recognised flag state, or

• Nationally recognised Barge Master licence, or

• Nationally recognised barge Chief Engineers license, or

• Extensive day-to-day experience in barge operations or barge terminal management.

Work Experience

• Must have served at least two years on the vessels of the type to be inspected, (*Note. Served means in this instance actual accumulated time on board and not calendar years), or

• Have undertaken suitable training to meet the agreed inspecting requirements for Category 3 vessels.

Category 3 Inspectors with previous seagoing experience shall hold, or have held a Certificate of Advanced training appropriate to the type of vessel to be inspected or a certificate issued by a local authority of equivalent standard.

Knowledge

Candidates must be able to demonstrate familiarity with, and knowledge of, International Regulations, National regulations as appropriate, codes and Conventions and Industry Guidelines, Procedures and Standards appropriate to the type of vessels being inspected.

Capabilities

Physically capable of conducting a full and complete inspection according to the requirement of the Barge Inspection Questionnaire: https://www.ocimf.org/media/76813/BIQ-Europe-Master.pdf , and

• be capable of communicating proficiently in written and spoken English,

• be capable of communicating proficiently in the spoken language of the vessels’ personnel.

Category 3 Inspectors with previous seagoing experience shall hold or have held a Dangerous Cargo endorsement appropriate to the type of vessel to be inspected, or a certificate issued by a local authority of equivalent standard.

Arie Palmers is a well experienced pilot and has provided some very valuable feedback over a period of years addressing all types of pilot ladder concerns and issues. This article shares these experiences and provides awareness in how ladders should and should not be rigged.