INTERTANKO Guiding Principles to Emergency Management and Crisis Communications

These guiding principles have been produced to help the international shipping industry achieve its safety objectives. The book is supported by a case study, for training purposes, on the Sea Empress incident. This incident illustrates the value of effective incident management and media response plans.

INTERTANKO believe it is essential that the industry responds quickly and effectively to an industry incident, not only to minimise the risks to human life and damage to the environment, but also to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to protect the industry’s public image. These guiding principles have been produced to help the international shipping industry contribute to this objective.

This publication is addressed to shipping companies, although it may also be of interest to every stakeholder responsible for aiming towards continuous improvement.

Guiding principles such as these can only be recommendatory in nature and users may need to adapt them to fit their particular needs and circumstances.

On this understanding, the guiding principles are intended to provide useful advice on why it is important to be prepared and what happens if you are not prepared. The publication includes a case study, in the form of a CD-ROM, on the needs and effects of incident management and media response plans. It uses the Sea Empress incident as an example.

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose and scope of the Guide

1.2 Efthimios Mitropoulos, IMO Secretary General: Be prepared

2. Crisis, What Crisis?

2.1 Be open, be accessible, be prompt – media comment

3. Emergency Management Principles

3.1 General emergency management principles, including charts

4. Crisis Communications Principles

4.1 General crisis communications principles, including charts

5. Case Study

5.1 No two incidents are the same and few are ‘orthodox’. This case study for training purposes offers an insight on how the Sea Empress incident was handled and the pressures that the operator and his staff had to face

6. Emergency Management and Crisis Communications Process

6.1 This section guides the reader through the process in the form of a checklist, highlighting what every company should have in place

INTERTANKO

INTERTANKO (the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners) is a trade association that has served as the voice for independent tanker owners since 1970, representing the interests of its Members at national, regional and international levels.

The organisation champions an industry dedicated to support global energy networks by delivering safe, efficient and environmentally sound transport services.

INTERTANKO actively works on a wide range of operational, technical, legal and commercial issues affecting tanker owners and operators around the world. It draws on regular and direct contact with its Members and other industry stakeholders to develop and disseminate information and best practice, essential to the tanker industry.

https://www.intertanko.com/About-Us/