Tanker / Terminal Safety Audits

Tanker and terminal operations leave no room for error. A single lapse during cargo transfer, tank cleaning or mooring can lead to fire, pollution or loss of life, and can damage a company’s reputation overnight. EASK Marine Consultancy brings the experience of Masters who have commanded some of the largest tankers in the world, including VLCCs, and who have worked at terminals and offshore moorings across the globe.

We audit tanker and terminal operations against the highest international standards, and we do it the way the oil majors do: on board, during live operations, with the experience and authority to stop an unsafe operation and put it right.

Experience you can trust

• Masters who have commanded VLCCs and oil, product and chemical tankers
• Mooring Masters with years of SBM and offshore terminal experience in West Africa and on the US West Coast
• Senior marine assurance and management roles with oil majors ranked among the best in the industry for safety culture
• Senior management experience at storage terminals

Major industry players regularly call on EASK Marine to support risk-sensitive operations on board tankers, both at sea and in port.

What we audit

We supervise and audit vessel operations throughout the entire port call, observing the crew and equipment during:

• Cargo loading and discharge
• Crude oil washing (COW)
• Ballast operations
• Bunkering
• Tank cleaning, gas freeing and inerting
• Ship-to-ship (STS) transfers
• Mooring and unmooring, including SBM and buoy moorings
• Enclosed space entry and permit-to-work systems
• The ship/shore interface, including the pre-transfer conference, communications and emergency arrangements

For terminals, we assess jetty and mooring operations, ship/shore communication, emergency preparedness and how well the terminal manages the vessels that call there.

International standards built into every audit

Every audit is measured against the international regulations and industry guidance that govern tanker and terminal operations worldwide, including:

• ISGOTT (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals), 6th edition, including the Ship/Shore Safety Checklist
• SOLAS, including fire safety, inert gas systems and enclosed space entry requirements
• MARPOL Annex I (prevention of oil pollution) and Annex VI, including VOC management
• The ISM Code and the company’s Safety Management System
• The ISPS Code
• STCW, including tanker training and certification requirements
• The IBC Code for chemical tankers and the IGC Code for gas carriers, where applicable
• OCIMF Mooring Equipment Guidelines
• The Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases
• OCIMF SIRE 2.0 and TMSA expectations for vessel operators
• OCIMF MTMSA (Marine Terminal Management and Self Assessment) for terminals
• OPA 90 for operations in US waters

Safety first, always

When we see a deviation from safe procedures, the operation is stopped, the cause is identified and corrective action is taken before work resumes. We then train the crew on the spot so the same mistake is not repeated. It reflects the principle at the heart of everything we do: do it safely or not at all, because there is always time to do it right.

Training built into every audit

Our auditors train as they audit, covering:

• Correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• The ISGOTT Ship/Shore Safety Checklist
• STS checklists and procedures
• Tank and enclosed space entry permits and permit-to-work systems
• Cargo and ballast planning
• Emergency procedures and response

We also focus on the Human Element. Clear communication between ship and shore, and within the cargo watch, often decides whether an operation runs safely, so we coach teams to plan together, confirm every critical step and speak up when something does not look right.

Detailed reporting

At the end of every audit we submit a detailed report highlighting any areas of concern, our observations against regulations and best practice, and practical, prioritised recommendations, giving owners, charterers, operators and terminals a clear picture of where they stand and what to do next.

Why clients choose EASK Marine

• Masters who have commanded some of the largest tankers in the world
• Real terminal and SBM experience across the globe
• Audits carried out during live operations, not just document reviews
• The authority to stop unsafe operations and correct them on the spot
• Every audit measured against ISGOTT, SOLAS, MARPOL and OCIMF guidance
• Training built into every audit, including the Human Element
• Detailed reports with clear, practical recommendations

For more information and to discuss how we can assist with your particular requirements, please contact us below.