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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.

An Oily Water Separator (OWS) is a piece of equipment used on board almost all marine vessels. It is used to separate oil and water mixtures into their separate components. They are found on board ships where they are used to separate oil from oily waste water, such as bilge water before the waste is discharged into the environment. These discharges of waste water must comply with the requirements laid out in MARPOL 73/78.

This incident is based on the experiences of the UK P&I Club. Accidents like the one in this course can and do happen. As you go through this course, ask yourself, "Could this happen on my ship?"

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.

This course will introduce and explain Rule 8 of the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (Rules of the Road).

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.

Ships are inherently dangerous workspaces, made doubly so by the fact that they move and rock while underway. During any operation, it is imperative that those involved are adequately protected from injury by use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so that they are less likely to become injured.

We want everyone to stay safe at work. Most days as we go about our routine everyday duties it is all plain sailing, as we try and do the right thing. However, there is always a risk that things can go wrong and in the blink of an eye, life can change. We all try to do everything we can to stay safe, and we all try to take care of our equipment ensuring that it is well-maintained and operating safely. Yet, despite this, we still experience failure of equipment which causes incidents often with severe consequences.

Every action affects its surroundings with a chain or ripple effect. This is the reason why stopping unsafe acts is necessary. By doing so, you can prevent potential dangers and also show your team that you are reliable and responsible.

Human element is a key component contributing to the safety of life on board and unfortunately, it is also one of the main contributors to a large number of casualties in the maritime industry. This can be made worse by bad human relations on board. Therefore, human relations and social responsibilities work hand in hand to mitigate casualties and incidents. Ensuring that the seafarers are in a positive working environment results in proper communication and good and effective teamwork.

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands. It is a metropolitan area with a population of roughly 2.7 million and is the 10th-largest city within the European Union. The Mariport of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport. Rotterdam is the architectural city of Holland that stimulates advancement. There are many yearly events and festivals taking place in Rotterdam, which makes it a worth visiting destination for all those cravings for fun. Every year, more than 1.5 million tourists visit this location due to its excellent museums, historical landmarks, natural beauty and parks.

Almost all seafarers have been subjected to hard weather, and they are well aware of the impact and forces that can occur at sea. When the ship starts to pitch and roll in heavy seas, it is obvious that the consequences of such can be severe if the cargo is not correctly stowed and secured.