OCIMF Newsletter Highlights Falls-to-Water Safety Push

Industry Gathers for Thun Resolve Launch

According to OCIMF’s Issue 156 members’ newsletter, OCIMF Director Karen Davis attended the launch of Thun Resolve in Leer, Germany, on 12 February, a vessel built by Ferus Smit for Thun Tankers and MF Shipping Group. Davis described the event as reflecting collective effort between owners, designers, builders and operators, noting the vessel’s design emphasis on crew wellbeing alongside safety and environmental performance. She framed such investment as evidence the industry is progressing responsibly amid technological and regulatory change.

Falls to Water Project Launches Working Group

A new OCIMF initiative addressing Falls to Water (FTW) incidents held its first working group meeting on 12 February, drawing participation from internal members and external stakeholders including INTERTANKO, InterManager, The Nautical Institute, the International Marine Contractors Association, the International Harbour Masters’ Association, BIMCO, Platform Zero Incidents and the American Waterways Operators.

The project aims to produce consolidated guidance spanning vessel operations, terminals, offshore activity and inland waterways, addressing what OCIMF describes as fragmented existing publications on the topic. The newsletter cites more than 130 fatalities linked to FTW incidents since 2020, alongside numerous serious non-fatal cases, occurring during personnel transfers, ship-to-ship operations, mooring, and access equipment rigging. Enquiries can be directed to Javed Bhombal, OCIMF Nautical Adviser.

Danish Straits Guidance and VOC Paper Update

OCIMF has published a new information paper offering operational and organisational guidance for large ships transiting Route T through the Great Belt in the Danish Straits, citing increased traffic of large hydrocarbon-carrying vessels through the deep-water route since 2022. The paper addresses risk assessment for southbound and northbound transits amid depth, current, weather and traffic challenges.

Separately, according to OCIMF’s newsletter, the organisation’s 2019 information paper on Volatile Organic Compound emissions from oil tanker cargo systems has been updated, revising sections on regulation, current practice, performance and training.

OCIMF Connects at IMO

OCIMF also hosted a coffee session at the IMO on 9 February to promote the Ship to Ship Transfer Guide, drawing around 400 participants during the Sub-committee on Pollution Prevention and Response.