Page 188 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025

Safety management

STS operations

at 50

Bridging the gap between guidance and practice

Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer operations have become an
indispensable element of global energy transportation,
enabling the safe and efficient transfer of crude oil,
refined products, and liquefied gases between vessels.

These operations allow flexibility in logis- ance alone does not equate to safety in
tics chains, reduce congestion in ports, practice. This persistent pattern high-
and provide commercial advantages for lights a critical paradox: the industry has
shipowners and charterers alike. Yet they no shortage of technical standards, yet
are inherently complex and carry risks their consistent and effective implemen-
that, if not carefully managed, can lead tation remains elusive.
to severe safety, environmental, and rep-
utational consequences. The nature of OCIMF’s guidance
Over the past fifty years, the industry has To understand this paradox, it is neces-
invested significant effort in codifying sary to consider the nature of OCIMF
safe practices for STS transfers. The Oil and its publications. OCIMF is a vol-
Companies International Marine Forum untary, member-driven organisation
(OCIMF), together with other industry representing oil majors, shipowners,
associations such as SIGTTO, has pro- and terminal operators. Its strength
by Dr Alexandros Glykas, duced a series of best practice guides lies in consensus building, but this is
CEO of DYNAMARINe and technical documents that now form also its limitation. Strict, prescriptive
the backbone of industry standards. rules would risk alienating members
Since the release of OCIMF’s first STS or imposing obligations that some
guide in 1975, the sector has accumu- stakeholders may find impractical.
lated a wealth of written guidance, oper- As a result, OCIMF publications are
ational frameworks, and lessons learned deliberately framed as “best practice”
from decades of experience. rather than enforceable requirements.
Despite this progress, accidents and inci- Enforcement rests on the individual
dents continue to occur with troubling “appetite” of energy companies.
regularity. Fatal embarkation accidents, This approach ensures broad applica-
pollution events linked to hose failures, bility across a highly diverse industry.
and hundreds of mooring line breakages STS operations take place under vastly
demonstrate that the presence of guid- different conditions, ranging from shel-

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