Competence Assurance Guidelines for Mooring, Loading and Lightering Masters

Within the context of these guidelines, the term Mooring Master encompasses several differently termed roles where a shore representative provides a professional marine advisory service to vessel Masters. Terms in common use to describe these various roles include Loading Master, Lightering Master, STS Superintendent and Docking/Berthing Master.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide: Recommendations on the development and implementation of a competency assessment system for Mooring Masters; Guidance on the competencies required of Mooring Masters; Guidance on the knowledge requirements of Mooring Masters; Recommendations on the assessment of an individual’s competence; Recommendations on continued verification of previously assessed competence for Mooring Masters; Advice on record keeping and documentation used to support a competence development programme.

Purpose and scope

The Competence Assurance Guidelines for Mooring, Loading and Lightering Masters (the Guidelines) contains recommendations provided with the aim of supporting a marine facility’s competence development programmes for Mooring Masters. There is no established requirement for this group of maritime professionals. The objective of these Guidelines is to provide a competence baseline that can be applied internationally.

Within the context of these Guidelines, the term Mooring Master encompasses several differently termed roles where a shore representative provides a professional marine advisory service to vessel Masters. Terms in common use to describe these various roles include Loading Master, Lightering Master, STS Superintendent and Docking/Berthing Master. Wherever Mooring Master is used in this publication it should be taken to include all these positions, unless otherwise specified.

The recommendations in this publication are intended for the use of Mooring Masters at marine facilities that include single and multiple buoy moorings and that undertake ship to ship transfers. They may also be of benefit at fixed berth facilities (jetties/docks) where the terminal is also responsible for managing a pilotage and Berthing Master service.

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide:

• Recommendations on the development and implementation of a competence assessment system for Mooring Masters.
• Guidance on the competencies required of Mooring Masters.
• Guidance on the knowledge requirements of Mooring Masters.
• Recommendations on the assessment of an individual’s competence.
• Recommendations on continued verification of previously assessed competence for Mooring Masters.
• Advice on record keeping and documentation used to support a competence development programme.

These Guidelines, core competencies and the recommended assessment and evaluation tools have been developed to reflect best practice that meets the requirements of the facility operator. The advice contained in this publication should be supplemented by information from individual facility operators in order that relevant aspects of their own procedures can be covered.

These Guidelines are not intended to replace any regulatory requirements.

This document is not a training manual. Competence gaps may be identified by using the recommended process and this can help with the development of individual training plans. Training courses and any certification requirements for a Mooring Master should be determined by each individual company.

Contents
Purpose and scope
Glossary
Abbreviations
Bibliography

Part One

Section One
Introduction
1.1 General
1.2 The Competence Framework
1.3 Competence Element templates

Section Two
Implementation guide
2.1 General
2.2 Customising the Framework
2.3 Competence levels

Section Three
Competence assessment and verification
3.1 General
3.2 Methods for assessing competence
3.2.1 Observation
3.2.2 Questioning
3.2.3 Written test
3.2.4 Oral test
3.3 The role of Assessors
3.3.1 Periodic assessment reviews
3.4 The role of Verifiers
3.5 Records

Part Two

Section Four
The Competence Framework
4.1 Overview of the Mooring Master Competence Framework
4.2 Index of Key Functions, Units and Elements

Section Five
Mooring Master core competencies - Element templates
Key Function 1 Facility organisation and procedures
Key Function 2 Safe passage of ship to/from berth
Key Function 3 Manoeuvring, mooring and unmooring
Key Function 4 Cargo transfer coordination
Key Function 5 Facility knowledge

Section Six
An example of knowledge requirements to support a periodic review of competence

OCIMF

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas. OCIMF focuses exclusively on preventing harm to people and the environment by promoting best practice in the design, construction and operation of tankers, barges and offshore vessels and their interfaces with terminals. Learn more at www.ocimf.org