Ship to Ship (STS) Transfer Operations; Safety and Emergencies

Ship-to-ship transfer operations, also known as STS operations, are operations where crude oil or petroleum products are transferred between seagoing tanker ships moored alongside each other at sea. Such operations can take place when one ship is at anchor or both are underway at very low speeds.

For all STS transfer operations, each Master remains at all times responsible for the safety of his ship, its crew, cargo and equipment and should not permit safety to be prejudiced by the actions of others. Each Master shall ensure that the procedures contained in this guide are followed and, in addition, that internationally accepted safety standards are maintained.

This course is a general guide to assist the shipowner/ship operator/ship personnel in preparing and executing a ship-specific Ship-to-Ship Transfer Operation Plan (STS plan), demonstrating compliance with the requirements of MARPOL Annex I, Chapter 8: “Prevention of Pollution during Transfer of Oil Cargo between Oil Tankers at Sea”, Regulations 40, 41 and 42.

It is important to stress that you always orient yourself towards your ship's specifications and follow your shipping company-approved procedures.

You will be presented with an assessment at the end of this course.

Course author

Reza Kapo

A marine chief engineer officer with long-standing sea-going experience, with a Master's Degree and a PhD Doctorate in Maritime Affairs.  I worked as an engineer at sea for almost eleven years when I was in charge of training several cadets.  In the last five years, I have been engaged as a research consultant in European maritime projects, where I have been in charge of desktop analyses, conducting surveys, and providing policy/technical recommendations. I have also been regularly involved in teaching activities for a wide range of STCW and IMO courses to marine officers since 2017.

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