Commercial Risk Management

Navigational Audits & Pre-SIRE Inspections

OCIMF introduced the Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA) publication and programme in 2004 as an instrument for Tanker Operators to measure and improve their safety management. It has been said that its requirements would become the cornerstone of the oil majors’ vetting programs.

TMSA builds on the foundations of the ISM Code. Its key elements are that tanker operators audit their own operational, safety, quality, environmental procedures to demonstrate continuous improvement against listed Key Performance Indicators. One of the main twelve areas of operational performance which will require monitoring is Navigational safety. MCE can assist in this area.

MCE has an experienced team of Master Mariners to undergo Navigational Audits, on a world-wide basis. They ride the vessel between mutually agreed ports to undergo the Audit and training sessions of the Bridge Watch-keepers. A fully documented report is compiled which can then be used to demonstrate to an Oil Major the Tanker Operator’s commitment to achieving these targets. We do recommend a regular /annual audit per ship to ensure that new officers are included, and also to follow up on previous issues if there were any.

MCE recommends one of 3 types of Navigational audit:-

• Type 1 – Reduced Nav. Audit - usually performed in port only during the course of one day
• Type 2 - Shortened Nav. Audit - usually when a 1 or 2 day voyage is involved
• Type 3 – Full Nav. Audit & Training - usually undertaken on a 3 to 4 day voyage.

If the Shipping Company have their own Audit Questions or format, MCE can ensure these are included. For the best possible coverage we do recommend Type 3.

At the same time as undergoing a Type 3 Navigational Audit we then usually have sufficient time to undergo a thorough Pre-SIRE Inspection according to the OCIMF Vessel Inspection Questionnaire.

Surveillance of Oil Jetty Operations

MCE Ltd has the experience of delivering specialised bespoke marine related services. Their expertise and professionalism has been called upon to represent the interests of Marine Assurance departments within Major Oil Companies in outlying ports and at Oil Terminals where difficulties / incidents have been experienced in the past. MCE are able to offer that measure of confidence in the vessel operations by their attendance where there has been a lack of it in the past. Due to the unique ‘personal professional’ manner of operating, our Consultants are able to deliver results in what has been described previously as almost impossible circumstances.

These services can be tailor-made to the Clients requirements. We draw on a vast resource of experience in order to deliver just-in-time services, which is quite a frequent request in today’s heavily litigious society.

We are ISO 9001 accredited, to give our clients quality assurance and we are members of the Energy Institute and Nautical Institute.