A recent study conducted by onlineSTS.net showed that KPI's assigned for subscriber manager/operators' ship-to-ship transfer (STS) operations screening policy have an overall average deviation of about 17% from the optimum performance goal.

The highest KPI deviation concerned vessel compatibility issues, which correspond to a value of about 21%, while the second KPI deviation was associated with the statutory/class P&I risk indicator.

The minimum KPI deviations, averaging about 2% from the optimum values, concerned vessel hull types and the owners/managers' port state control performance.

Specific KPI listings on nominated vessels' screening policies for STS operations results in a structure to ensure that the decision making policy during their STS screening and risk assessment procedures can be calculated.

In the long term, this listing will eventually lead to conclusions being made associated with the correlation between proactive decision making and incident occurrences, participating vessel performance, as well as STS service provider performance, onlineSTS.net claimed.

At the same time as shipmanagers endeavour to exercise their best due diligence in order to mitigate risk and protect their interests on a statutory basis, they also look after the interests of their charterers and cargo owners, especially in STS lightering areas where coastal state legislation is strict.

Screening procedures used by owner/operator/managers signed up to onlineSTS.net, result in successful commercial competitiveness, safety preparedness and of great importance - good advice to their Masters.

It is the Masters who bare the final responsibility for safe procedures when involved in an STS operation, as per the relevant clauses within charterparties signed with their charterers, onlineSTS.net concluded.

Source: Tanker Operator