The Guide contains recommendations on safety, minimum equipment levels and good operating practices, but it is recognised that if more stringent international, national or local regulations apply, they must take precedence.
This Guide is a required publication on the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaires for Oil Tankers, Combination Carriers, Shuttle Tankers, Chemical Tankers and Gas Tankers.
The guide is aimed at providing advise and assistance to Masters, Marine Superintendants and other personnel who may be involved in the planning and execution of STS operations.
This industry guide provides recommendations on safety, minimum equipment levels and good operating practices for STS operations. It is a required publication on the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaires (VIQ) for Oil Tankers, Combination Carriers, Shuttle Tankers, Chemical Tankers and Gas Tankers.
This book builds on the previous recommendations and recognises experience gained in the industry of STS transfer operations, including transferring chemical (MARPOL Annex II) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes. The guide is applicable to transfers involving all bulk liquid cargoes, but where specific recommendations relate to a particular cargo type these can be found in the appendices. For transfers involving Annex I cargoes, the guide supports the requirements and recommendations developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Section 1 – General Principles
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Background
1.3 Scope
1.4 Risk assessments
1.5 Control of operations
1.6 Role of a ship to ship superintendent
1.7 Person in overall advisory control
1.8 Training and familiarisation of ship’s personnel
1.9 Security
Section 2 – Conditions and Requirements
2.1 Ship to ship compatibility
2.2 Notification to and approval from authorities
2.3 Transfer area
2.4 Environmental conditions
2.5 Quality assurance of ship to ship service providers
Section 3 – Safety
3.1 General
3.2 Risk assessment
3.3 Personal protective equipment and life saving appliances
3.4 Use of checklists
3.5 Material safety data sheets
3.6 Gas accumulation on open decks
3.7 Action in case of infringement of safety
3.8 Action in case of cargo leakage
3.9 Helicopter operations
3.10 Safety during cargo transfer
Section 4 – Communications
4.1 General communications
4.2 Language
4.3 Pre-arrival communications
4.4 Navigational warnings
4.5 Communications during approach, mooring and unmooring
4.6 Communications during cargo transfer operations
4.7 Procedures for communication failure
Section 5 – Operational Preparations
5.1 General
5.2 Joint plan of operation
5.3 Preparation of ships
5.4 Lightering support vessels
5.5 Navigational signals
Section 6 – Manoeuvring and Mooring
6.1 Basic principles
6.2 Manoeuvring alongside at sea with two ships under power
6.3 Manoeuvres with one ship at anchor
6.4 Manoeuvring for in port operations
6.5 Manoeuvring with one ship alongside a terminal
6.6 Mooring operations
Section 7 – Procedures Alongside
7.1 Pre-transfer procedures
7.2 Responsibility for cargo operations
7.3 Planning for cargo transfer
7.4 Cargo transfer – general guidance
7.5 Operations after completion of cargo transfer
7.6 Bunkering and storing
Section 8 – Unmooring
8.1 Preparations for unmooring
8.2 Unmooring procedure
Section 9 – Equipment
9.1 Fenders
9.2 Cargo transfer hoses
9.3 Mooring equipment
9.4 Personnel transfers – at sea operations
9.5 Personnel transfers – in port operations
9.6 Lighting
9.7 Ancillary equipment for ship to ship operations
9.8 Equipment noise levels
Section 10 – Emergencies
10.1 Contingency planning and emergency response procedures
10.2 Emergency signal
10.3 Emergency situations
10.4 Examples of potential emergencies
10.5 Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan, Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP) and Vessel Response Plan (VRP)
10.6 State of readiness for an emergency
10.7 Cessation of transfer operations as a precautionary measure
Appendices
A Additional considerations for ship to ship transfers involving MARPOL Annex I cargoes (crude oil and petroleum products)
B Additional considerations for ship to ship transfers Involving MARPOL Annex II Cargoes (chemicals)
C Additional considerations for ship to ship transfers involving liquefied petroleum gas cargoes
D Additional considerations for ship to ship transfers involving liquefied natural gas cargoes
E Operational/safety checklists
F Example checklist for personnel transfers by crane
G Example checklist for transfers involving vapour balancing
H Fender selection calculation
I Considerations applicable to reverse lightering operations
J Guidance for connection of individual hose lengths to assemble a hose string
K Guidance on risk assessment processes
L Example liquefied natural gas ship to ship transfer compatibility questionnaire
