BRITISH TUGOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Self Mooring

The Vessels Guidance

SUMMARY

• Outline the issue and the context for self mooring

• A brief outline of assessment of risk

• A discussion regarding the MCA/COSWP working group initial response to the MAIB

recommendation, and subsequent amendments.

• What challenges, as an operator, do we face?

• How do we move forward?

THE ISSUE

• MAIB Case Studies

– Moira (2015)

– Milgarth (Jan 2019)

– Cherry Sand (Feb 2019)

• Safe access and/or effective mooring?

THE THEMES

THE ASSESSMENT OF RISK

• The duty to make a sufficient assessment of risks to

health and safety and the implementation of

measures to improve health and safety from those

identified risks.

• Routine operations for several vessel operators

• The evolution of self mooring is reasonably practical

…when…

• Guidance already exists for the independent

elements, although little in the way to join.

• Yet, fatalities are recorded for vessel access

• A specific self-mooring risk assessment by the

vessel operator and berth owner is required – a

blueprint for action.

.

THE WORKING GROUP

• MCA/COSWP WG initial response to the Milgarth recommendation

Represented a collaborative approach

• What does good look like?

• Hierarchy uses lines as a point of focus

• Measures should not result in additional hazard or displacement of

risk

• Shall not legitimise unsafe acts

• BTA, WBA, RYA and Union Representation into stakeholder guidance

2020/118 Amend the Code of Safe Working Practices for Seafarers to include

guidance for the safe completion of mooring operations including, specifically,

the circumstances when it is permissible for crew to carry out self-mooring

operations

THE CHALLENGES

• Human?– The perception & appreciation of risk – all sides

– Conflicting interests – ownership.

– Resistance to change

– High risk activity is normalised and perceived as low risk

– Bias; can risk be trivialised?

• Technological?– The right equipment for the task

– Risks for vessel access are risks for self mooring

– Must not legitimise hazardous practice

• Procedural?– Can the safe system of work be followed

– Does the safe system of work reflect the activity, inc any changes (wx, tide, berth operations)

– Understood that changes may bring risk – the butterfly effect

– Act on near miss events

– Is compliance verified through visit & findings acted upon?

CONVERTING GUIDANCE INTO PRACTICE?

• Must maintain sight of the aim – the reduction of

risk and improvement of health and safety.

• Clear, unambiguous and easy to follow instruction

– fit for the actual purpose intended.

• Safety culture – good practice reinforced,

concerns are raised and addressed, and

verification of compliance is undertaken.

• Addressing the shared risks is of mutual benefit

not just a statutory requirement.

• It must be remembered that the activity is unique

and may require the overcoming with engineering

intervention.

• A positive step…together.

BRITISH TUGOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Questions?