Onboard Operations

Ships are extremely complex environments, containing various hazards and risks. Due to this, a need arises to make the risks bearable in order to ensure the maximum safety of the crew, the vessel itself, and the environment. In order to achieve this result, a process to identify, evaluate and address all the risks relevant enough to endanger the crew, the vessel, or the environment is created. This risk assessment will ensure a proper analysis of the likelihood and potential consequences of each identified hazard or risk.

The Vessel General Permit (VGP) is applicable to discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, under which vessels are authorised to discharge effluent within US waters. It is a system of environmental regulation designed to reduce pollution by vessels visiting US ports or operating in US waters. Obtaining and complying with the permit can be challenging, as individual states can establish additional water quality standards that are included in the VGP.

Bridge Resource Management is a critical tool for the officer of the watch in order to maintain a safe navigational watch. BRM is the process to use all of the means available to you during critical operations taking into account not only electronic aids to navigation but also any other data provided during the watch and most importantly teamwork.

The Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) is a standard assessment used by tanker owners and operators in order to identify any operational deficiencies in their fleet or their ship. VIQ, Vessel Inspection Questionnaire, is a document within the SIRE, which offers and ensures ships' safety by means of additional safety precautions for all tankers. Chapter 9 of the VIQ covers mooring. In this course, we will discuss this chapter and common observations that are found by vetting inspectors with regard to mooring.

When working onboard, one is exposed to hazards and risks all the time. By raising awareness of the hazards, the likelihood can be decreased and thereby, also the potential risk. This course is intended to provide you with the fundamental knowledge of Risk Assessment onboard and give you a useful tool to handle potential risks.

SPOS Seakeeping delivers tailored, vessel-specific routing advice and is the only established solution to offer both voyage performance and fully integrated onboard ship motion optimisation. Not only is SPOS Seakeeping the master of forecasted vessel response and resonances, but the add-on module also provides tools to help you make decisions in course changes (direction and speed insights) to safely escape motion occurrences.

This course gives additional training for operations in polar waters, underpinning the knowledge gained during STCW polar courses. In this course, deck officers will be given guidance and advice on personal health and safety in polar waters. This course is not meant to be an approved STCW course but an additional training course for onboard learning.

Due to the nature of the work environment onboard ships, risks and hazards tend to be unavoidable. The ISM Code was introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to help in creating a standard for safety. Companies are nowadays required to provide ships with a safety management system that highlights the procedures that should be followed on board to ensure the protection of life, ship, and the environment. Additionally, safety culture is introduced both ashore and on board to assist with the continuous improvement of safety-related issues.

The purpose of refrigeration systems on board vessels is to store temperature-sensitive cargo, perishable food supplies and air conditioning. In line with the Montreal Protocol, and as per MARPOL Annex VI, refrigeration installations must comply with various requirements, including the charging and discharging of systems, and the types of refrigerant utilised.

The Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) is a standard assessment used by tanker owners and operators in order to identify any operational deficiencies in their fleet or their ship. VIQ, Vessel Inspection Questionnaire, is a document within the SIRE, which offers and ensures ships' safety by means of additional safety precautions for all tankers. Chapter 8 of the VIQ covers Cargo and Ballast Operations on Petroleum Tankers. In this course, we will discuss this chapter and common observations that are found by vetting inspectors with regard to Cargo and Ballast Operations.

Oceans occupy much of our planet's surface. Sustainability and the blue ocean are vital topics. The seabed harbours many resources, containing rich history of millennia of items lost at sea. It is estimated there are some 3 million wrecks, and there is growing interest in investigating these, whether the focus is protection, looting, access, information or historical investigation. From a cultural heritage perspective, there is much to learn about what goes on in the sea.

This course aims to help you understand the sea from the underwater context in which superyachts reside.

Lighthouses, buoys and navigational aids are indispensable to the mariner; however, they are only as useful as the ability of the mariner to read them. Apart from being able to read and understand the different marks, one must also appreciate the limitations of such marks, to make a full appraisal and a complete risk assessment during all stages of voyage planning.