On-board Oil Polution BOR
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It can be an
environmental disaster,
an operational disaster,
and a businesses disaster--
a pollution emergency.
But if and when prevention
fails, plenty of preparation,
and plenty of practice, can
make a world of difference.
The very best crews are the
ones prepared for the worst,
and that's what this program is
all about-- pollution response.
Make no mistake
about it-- preparing
for the worst is more than
good seamanship and good sense,
it's also the law.
Check all the scuppers.
New regulations require
shipping companies
to guarantee a higher level
of crew training and readiness
than ever before.
And part of that
readiness is the ability
to respond to a
pollution emergency.
80% plus of all accidents
are human error.
We realize that if we can
have a base level of training
for all mariners
internationally,
that we can prevent,
hopefully, a lot of those.
It does give me a
lot of confidence
to know that the
crew can respond
the way you would expect in
case of an emergency situation.
In this program, we'll
outline correct procedures
for an effective
oil spill response.
We'll show you how to
prepare and conduct
effective drills or exercises,
and we'll simulate a drill.
And we'll get expert
commentary from the people
who enforce the rules.
Again, in an oil
spill, once it's
happened, what you want to
do is mitigate the results
of that, or the circumstances.
Anything that you
can do beforehand,
especially in training and
coordination and pre-planning,
is value added in the outcome.
Because of the catastrophic
results of oil pollution,
we're going to concentrate in
this program on oil pollution
response.
The heart of this
program is preparation--
how to practice and
drill effectively
so in case of a real emergency,
you can respond effectively.
But you shouldn't
even start practicing
until you know you can do
it safely and skillfully.
That takes training and
planning in four basic steps.
The first step in planning
the drill is training.
Educate your people on
how to practice safely
and knowledgeably.
This has eight check-offs
here-- stop the product flow,
warn personnel, shut
up ignition sources,
contain control spill,
which is what we're going
to be concerned with today.
Led by their chief
mate, this crew
is planning and preparing for
a pollution response drill.
Part of their
preparation is review
of a key section in their
emergency response manual--
the SOPEP.
SOPEP stands for Shipboard
Oil Pollution Emergency Plan.
What we, as a company, expect
is that our crew members
know how to follow the
procedures in their Shipboard
Oil Pollution Emergency Plans.
And those procedures
really are fairly simple.
The second step in planning
the drill is procedures.
Educate your crew what
to do, when to do it,
and how to do it, using
the SOPEP as your guide.
This SOPEP has eight
steps, beginning
with stopping oil flow,
sounding warnings and alarms,
and proceeding
through notification
of the proper authorities,
and containing the spill.
Identify the members of
the spill response teams.
These responsibilities divide
into two-- the communications
team and the containment team.
Some of your team will have
hands-on responsibilities
on deck.
Others will be
supervising communication
among crew members and with
designated agencies shoreside.
Step four in planning is
familiarizing the team
with their equipment, where it's
located, and how it's operated.
We have a checklist
of what's in here.
If there are crew
members who don't
know where the pollution
response equipment is located,
show them.
Good preparation serves
two purposes-- first,
you prepare the crew for
your drill or exercise.
Second, a port state
control inspector
may ask to see the pollution
response equipment, or even
for the crew to stage a drill.
Here are some tips for
effective drill planning.
Plan well ahead of time--
the time, type, and location
of the drill, and
inform your crew.
Create a realistic
scenario, and always
involve as many people as
possible for the best possible
learning experience.
Your planning and your
preparation are now behind you.
The time for the drill,
itself, approaches.
Every SOPEP is a little bit
different, every ship, captain,
and crew is unique.
Your scenario is
going to be your own.
But we chose this particular
ship for our drill,
because we like their
realistic approach,
and we like their enthusiasm.
Hello, attention all crew.
This is a pollution drill.
We want to everybody
right now, over.
The drill we're about
to see has nine steps.
Since no actual oil
is spilled, there's
some role-playing involved.
But it's an effective
hands-on learning experience.
Here's the scenario.
During bunkering, a
tank has overflowed,
spilling bunker fuel
on deck, over the side,
and in the water.
For purposes of the
drill, we assume
that the spill has not
been noticed until oil
has entered the water.
Step number one is
emergency shutdown--
stopping pumps, closing valves,
shutting down ignition sources,
such as welding or smoking.
Does the crew have the
hand signals right?
What's the next procedure?
The chief is both a
player and a coach.
Step number two is
sounding the alarm,
reporting what you've seen.
Detecting the spill sets off a
whole string of communications.
Communication is the
key to everything.
We're not looking at
communication just
between myself and
chief engineer.
The communication has to
filter down right down
to the lowest rating on board.
The officer in charge
informs the captain,
and the other members of
the pollution response team.
The captain sounds
the general alarm
to call out the response team.
[ALARM RINGING]
Step three is to
assess conditions.
Refer to your SOPEP, and use
the oil spill report form.
The SOPEP lists your procedures,
which may be quickly scanned.
Use the SOPEP to assess
how much you know,
and how you should proceed.
There are two things going on.
Usually the captain heads up
communications from the bridge,
while on deck, the chief
directs containment efforts.
Both need to coordinate
with the other.
As you script and
conduct your drills,
be aware that there are two
types of spills-- spills
that are contained on the
decks of the ship, and spills
that reach the water.
The scenario you
choose will influence
what happens in the next
step-- some very quick actions
in the communication center.
We have oil on the deck, and we
suspect about 500 liters of oil
has gone overboard.
Step number four
is report-- first
to the appropriate
shoreside authorities listed
in the SOPEP, then to
the ship owner and/or
a manager, and your
P&I Club correspondent.
The SOPEP should list the phone
numbers and who to contact,
as well as the criteria for
who should be called when.
Our first goal is
for people to know
where their containment
equipment is on board
the vessel, and how to use it.
But if oil does enter
the water, the crew
needs to know that it's gone
beyond their own limited
capacity to contain
the spill, and they
need help from the
shoreside establishment.
Even as people are scrambling to
begin containment and clean up,
there's some assessment
taking place on deck, too.
Step number five
says safety first.
Check for flammable
liquid spills,
address any injuries, fires,
or other damage related
to the incident, and be careful.
Oil on deck is slippery.
Part of your SOPEP
designates who's
in charge at the
point of the spill.
In our example here, it's
the shared responsibility
of the chief engineer
and the chief mate.
[INAUDIBLE]
They evaluate crew's
safety issues,
assign responsibilities,
and direct the cleanup.
That's step six-- communication.
Keep a steady link
between the communications
team and the containment team.
At this point, the two should
be operating in parallel.
The captain is in touch
with the authorities,
and ready to call for
additional resources.
The chiefs are
supervising the action
at the point of the spill.
They're maintaining a steady
dialogue with each other.
Remember to keep communications
short and direct.
Step seven, damage control.
Determine the
source of the spill
or leak, and make
sure it's stopped.
Even as you're cleaning
up what's already spilled,
you need to make sure
you're not spilling anymore.
Taking the head off an
overflowing fuel tank,
for instance, to
prevent further damage.
Again, like a lot
of this process,
these steps are
going on in parallel,
addressing the effects and
the cause at the same time.
Don't forget that the
primary purpose of the drill
is learning-- practice.
The chiefs take time
as the drill proceeds
to coach crew members and
improve their performance.
They want individual
competence and smooth teamwork.
In the training procedures that
we have now is, I would say,
they are not anymore
individual skills.
We are looking at developing all
responses based on a teamwork
base.
So we are looking at our
combined response to whatever
situation that we have to face.
Step number eight in the drill
is to use the on-deck recovery
equipment.
This includes portable transfer
pumps and hoses, spill kits
and absorbent materials,
shovels, brooms,
and kitty litter, or sawdust.
The name of the game is
absorbency-- sopping stuff up
and getting rid of it.
An air diaphragm
pump may be used
to vacuum up large puddles
of oil, with input and output
hoses for transfer into drums.
Absorbent materials
are twisted into loops
and placed around all
deck outlets and scuppers.
Containment is
just what it says--
keeping the oil in a contained
place, then cleaning it up.
The final step in today's
drill is disposal-- collecting
the oil debris into drums for
proper disposal on arrival
in port.
Besides the material
you're disposing of,
the end of the
drill is also time
to re-stow unused
materials properly.
Make sure there are adequate
supplies for the next drill,
or the real thing.
Here are some tips for
doing effective drills.
Know your SOPEP--
the official guide
you'll use throughout the drill.
Make sure you practice
the communication
part of the process, not
just the containment.
It's just as important.
And use the drill as a
learning experience-- coach
and teach your people.
It's important that you
keep a record of all drills
and training exercises.
New STCW regulations require
documentation of training
and crew competence.
This sets a base standard
that says that you have
to be trained at this level.
And by the way, you have
to show us that you did it,
so that we can verify it.
And then we hold the
mariner and the company--
we'll hold the mariner and
the company accountable.
Make sure you evaluate and
share what you've learned.
Make sure you communicate,
and follow up on any areas
where you are weak.
And make sure you document
your work, and the training
of every crew member.
Here are a couple of final
thoughts on how to do it right.
Prevention is still the best
way to deal with pollution.
Include training on the
causes of spills, too.
Focus on people as
well as procedures.
Your SOPEP and
muster list should
include an organized
command structure
for pollution response.
Train frequently, even
for shorter time periods.
Set up a training
schedule and stick to it.
The Coast Guard would like to
see you drilling once a month.
So for our company, what
the Coast Guard says
is good advice, and
that's what we follow.
They say an ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure.
In the case of
pollution response,
that means preparation and
practice in case prevention
fails.
Train regularly
and realistically.
Document what you do.
And even in the
worst case, you'll
be ready to do your best.