The STS readiness checklist: what to verify before vessels come alongside

Compatibility

Start with the vessels themselves.

• Size and freeboard difference — at the start, middle and end of the transfer
• Manifold positions, sizes and reducers
• Mooring arrangements and fairlead positions
• Cargo compatibility, including temperature and pressure for gas cargoes

The plan

A written operation plan is required for oil tankers under MARPOL Annex I and is good practice for every STS operation. It should be specific to the operation, not a generic template. Industry guidance such as the OCIMF/CDI/ICS/SIGTTO Ship to Ship Transfer Guide is the reference most plans are built on.

• Roles and the person in overall advisory control
• Approach, mooring, transfer and unmooring procedures
• Operating limits and stop criteria
• Emergency procedures and contacts

People

Confirm that the people supervising and carrying out the operation have the relevant experience and have been briefed on this specific plan.

Equipment

• Fenders: type, size, number and condition
• Hoses: type, length, test certificates and condition
• Mooring lines and equipment in good order
• Communications tested between vessels and support craft

Conditions

Check the forecast against the agreed limits, and keep monitoring. If conditions move outside the limits, stop. A delayed operation costs money; an incident costs far more.

The honest question

The final readiness question is simple: if something is not ready, will anyone say so? At J LINE our mandate is zero casualties, zero accidents and excellent service. Where conditions are unsafe, we identify what must change before proceeding.