SAFEEN PILOT AND TUGMASTER UPGRADE
KEY FEATURES:
Client: Abu Dhabi Ports
Location: Abu Dhabi
Period: December 2018 – January 2019
PROJECT
In Q3 – 2018 KOTUG was awarded the contract for upgrading Pilots and Tug Captains sailing for Safeen in the port of Khalifa and Mina Zayed.
SITUATION
The upgrade of the Pilots and Tug Captains was requested by Safeen upon the first arrival of a deep draught cape sized bulker for the Emal Jetty which are handling different to the vessels entering the port previously.
APPROACH
In our tailormade course we provided, the emphasis was put on:
- Centre lead operations with ASD tugs.
- Ship/Tug interactions.
- Line lengths and line forces.
- Forces, Vectors and Turning moments.
- Pivot point and the influences on tug operations.
- Bollard Pull Calculation.
- Vessel handling.
- Bridge Team management.
- Risk Management.
- Tug Limitations and Hazard mitigation.
OPERATION
Our trainers provided on board and on the job training, also we showed an trained the necessity to the cooperation between Pilots and Tug masters.Download Case Study
RAISING STANDARDS THROUGH SHARED AWARENESS
Day of the Seafarer 2021
Message from Ard-Jan Kooren
25th June each year is the IMO Day of the Seafarer, recognizing the invaluable contribution seafarers make to international trade and the world economy. A message from our CEO Ard-Jan Kooren to support IMO’s call for a #FairFuture4Seafarers
“The weekends are the hardest. Life has pretty much been picked up at home, and on Saturdays and Sundays my friends and family go out and about to enjoy themselves. I am happy for them, but it makes me realize even more that we’re stuck here. Still though, I wouldn’t change my job in a million years.”
“This quote from Patrick Klooster in an interview last year touched me,” says Ard-Jan Kooren, CEO of KOTUG International. “Patrick is one of our captains who was stuck on his vessel for more than four months due to COVID-19 restrictions. It is an exemplary story for thousands of seafarers around the globe. The uncertainty of repatriation, the disappointment of another failed attempt to get on a plane, being so far away from home, and yet still having that passion for your profession. That sparkle. That’s the spirit of seafarers I’ve seen during my entire career of 31 years.”
Seafarers on priority list vaccinations
“Last year the Day of the Seafarer focused its message around urging governments to recognize seafarers as key workers. Important steps were made, and seafarers are included in the priority list for vaccination in many countries. We are grateful that in a growing number of countries the COVID-19 vaccination program for seafarers has started. It is good to see that our joint efforts to convince governments about this do make a difference! On the other hand, we all know that the pandemic will not be over anywhere until it is over everywhere, and that means getting vaccines to every country as soon as possible. I see this as a shared responsibility, and therefore the Kooren Foundation decided to donate for the supply of vaccinations to countries in need.”
It ain’t over till it’s over
“Still, it ain’t over till it’s over” continues Ard-Jan Kooren, “and we support the IMO in their continued effort to encourage governments to support seafarers amid the pandemic while also calling for a fair future for seafarers. As stated by the IMO, there are still issues that will be relevant to seafarers after the pandemic, such as fair treatment of seafarers, fair working conditions, fair training, fair safety, gender equality etc. Seafarers are a vital part in the world’s logistic supply chain, therefore we fully support the yearly Day of the Seafarer and invite others to also join the movement by sharing IMO’s hashtag #FairFuture4Seafarers.”
TasPorts welcomes RT Force to its fleet
The first Rotortug operating on the East Coast of Australia
KOTUG announces the charter agreement with TasPorts, Tasmania. TasPorts has welcomed RT Force to its towage fleet at the Port of Bell Bay, in a demonstration of the company’s commitment to continually managing marine risk and enhancing the services provided to customers. All training, both for the tug crews and marine pilots, has been conducted in Tasmania at the Australian Maritime College under the guidance of KOTUG’s dedicated Training & Consultancy division.
TasPorts ChiefExecutive Officer Anthony Donald said the 80-tonne bollard pull Rotortug would support existing and future projected shipping needs and volumes.
“This will be the first Rotortug operating not just in Tasmania but on the East coast of Australia,” Mr Donald said. “The Rotortug is one of the most capable tugs in the industry and is utilised by some of the world’s largest ports such as Rotterdam, Port Hedland and Brunei, to manage risk and optimise shipping. “RT Force will also be a key element in ensuring the reliability of our customer’s supply chains through improved risk mitigation at one of Tasmania’s major deep water commercial ports.”
“We are very happy that the RT Force has set sail to Tasmania to support the operations of TasPorts,” said Ard-Jan Kooren, CEO of KOTUG International B.V and Rotortug B.V.
“For sure this robust vessel will improve the operations in terms of redundancy, cost savings, faster handling and accurate maneuvering and enhanced safety. We look forward to a great cooperation.”
TUG MASTER TRAINING SHELL PRELUDE FLNG
TUG MASTER TRAINING ON BOARD AND SIMULATOR TRAINING FOR ISV ROTORTUGS®
AT PRELUDE (FLNG)
KEY FEATURES:
Client: Shell Australia
Location: Australia
Period: Ongoing
KEYWORDS: Simulator training, Tug Master training
PROJECT
Prelude is an operational floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, located offshore, north-northeast of Broome, in Western Australia. Prelude FLNG is designed to extract, liquefy and store natural gas at sea before it is transferred and shipped to customers. For the tandem and side by side mooring, Shell has the availability of three Infield Support Vessels where Tug Training and Consultancy trains the nautical officers.
SITUATION
Our trainers provide onboard training during operations, such as personnel- and cargo transfer, side by side mooring, tandem operations, hawse and hoser handling et cetera. Due to the open water environment and adverse weather conditions these can be challenging operations.
APPROACH
We work with a pool of four dedicated trainers, that is constantly reviewing, adjusting (where needed) and improving the operational aspect of the job. With their skills, experience and expertise the trainers will contribute to capacity building and development of the trainees
OPERATION
The training takes place on the job, in the fields, on simulators and jointly with the pilots in the simulators but also online. During these sessions we expose the tug masters and pilots to different scenarios that include emergencies and extreme weather conditions. After the simulation runs, we thoroughly debrief to improve the awareness of all involved.
How to design your SPM for long-term goals
To be sustainable means that the offshore terminal is designed, engineered and managed in such a way that it favours longevity over short-term burn-out. But how does one design, build and operate an offshore terminal with long-term goals in mind?
There is no prescribed one-size-fits-all solution, but in the past 50 years, MARSOL has developed a method that can be applied to both greenfields and brownfields projects. This method helps to find the right solution for each individual terminal, taking into account its risks, OpEx, efficiency and overall goals.
Every business and its terminals are unique, and as such it is important to establish your company goals and fiduciary duties before optimisation or design begins. This type of data collection and analysis will help guide your minimum viable product and steer all actions with the big picture in mind.
Predicting terminal requirements for your long-term vision
Maintenance and preservation, for example, is a good place to start. MARSOL’s preservation practices ensure that the performance of the whole system is consistent throughout its working life. Data may reveal that a specific terminal faces more deterioration on its hoses than another. Adding routine inspections for this terminal will protect you from unforeseen events. Upgrading to a different hose manufacturer could also help you to lower OpEx in the long run.
Through applying integrity-based Inspection Repair and Maintenance (IRM) and creating a marine asset history, MARSOL can establish operations and maintenance philosophies specific to the terminal in question. By modifying associated work programmes periodically, the terminal can stay up to date and reflect changes brought about by any influencing factors and unusual events.
While collecting and analyzing data may take time and effort at first, it will soon become another normal part of project management and the rewards are worth it. By analyzing data collected over time, you will have the opportunity to review your current maintenance programme, identify areas of improvement and design changes on the system components to safely and economically optimise future activities and schedules. This type of long term commitment to optimisation and longevity will help you optimise related OPEX and lower risk.
What does it mean to align your offshore terminal with long term goals?
Lowering risk and OpEx are the first two things that come to mind when you think about the benefits of aligning your offshore terminal to long term goals, but it doesn’t stop there.
Understanding the fluctuating needs of your terminal will help you to prepare for them. This means that you will not overspend when there is low demand and you will not be under-resourced when there is an increase in demand. This type of planning will ensure that efficiency is applied to the right place at the right time.
In managing efficiency, you will also be able to establish the best times for optimisation such as training or major intervention. Planning for these events helps to prevent downtime by investing in reliability.
Reliability is directly linked to your income, but it is also linked to reputation and fiduciary duties are often overlooked. When your offshore terminal is aligned to a long-term vision and its risks minimised, unforeseen events are prepared for and their effects are often therefore well mitigated. By being reliable, you will instil trust with suppliers and clients, but also your teams and the communities affected.
Finally, with a long-term vision in mind, you will know where to invest CapEx and how to guarantee return on investment. Extending marine asset lifespan, for example can only be done responsibly when you have data at your side.
Where to start?
Aligning your offshore terminal to long-term goals starts with data. Get in touch with a reputable service provider who cares as much about your business as you do.
This service provider needs to be experienced in designing and operating terminals throughout its lifespan so that you know the future of your terminal is as well understood as its present and past.
As MARSOL is actively involved in all phases of the SPM life cycle (i.e. from the cradle to the grave), we are in a unique position to understand the typical points of failure over time. We value longevity and take a holistic approach to maximising the Asset’s service life, irrespective of whether MARSOL is contracted by Owners/Operators, Consultants, Contractors or others.
As a commercial and technical marine service solutions provider, MARSOL covers Engineering, Project Management, Operations & Maintenance, Inspection Repair & Maintenance (IRM) and Integrity management among other subsea and maritime services. This means that all influencing factors are taken into account when optimisation occurs.
KOTUG Training signs MoU with MTI, Karachi
Karachi (Pakistan) & Rotterdam (The Netherlands), April 5, 2021
KOTUG Training signs MoU with Maritime Training Institute to develop a strategic partnership
KOTUG Training (formerly Tug Training & Consultancy (TTC), part of the Kotug Group of Companies, and Maritime Training Institute Karachi (MTI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a long-term strategic partnership. The MoU encompasses exclusive training of (tug) Masters, ships crews and Pilots in Pakistan by certified TTC trainers at MTI’s training facilities in Karachi.
Facing the increasing demand for qualified maritime professionals, MTI is seeking ways to safeguard its best-in-class training for which the organization is renowned.
TTC fulfills this requirement by being able to offer first-class trainers to tutor staff on the spot. As the only ISO 9001 certified Tug Training Company in the world, TTC sets high standards for the training facilities it uses. TTC operates in line with the aim of the Kotug Group of Companies to create safe and sound operations with respect for the environment and an excellent level of training and competence while safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved. With a fully equipped and exclusive Maritime Simulator Centre in Karachi, and similar values, these standards are perfectly met by MTI.
Joint Pilot Tug Master training is requested more and more by various ports and terminals in the world to increase port safety and efficiency; therefore effective and efficient teamwork between Pilot and Tug Masters is one of the key training programmes to be delivered by TTC at MTI.
Patrick Everts, General Manager of Tug Training & Consultancy: “We are extremely happy with this strategic partnership. Pakistan is one of the key growth markets and with their modern facilities MTI meets our high standards for training facilities. It encompasses combined classroom and simulator training on state-of-the-art simulators (in combination with on board training), a proven didactic method for the best training results, preparing the students for expected and unexpected real-life situations. We are looking forward to starting our training and providing the students with our highly regarded TTC Certificate, ensuring more safety and efficiency to the maritime industry”.
Capt. Ajmal Mahmoodi Managing Director of Maritime Training Institute: “Indeed it is a great honour for MTI to be associated with world-renowned Tug Training & Consultancy. They have vast experience in tug training of all types for different scenarios. There were no such updated facilities available in Pakistan until now. With this partnership training can be conducted in Pakistan and will be beneficial to all Pakistani seafarers to be trained, they obtain the worldwide recognized TTC Certification”.
Online signing of MOU. In the big screen, Captain S.M.A Mahmoodi (MTI).From top to bottom: Rear Admiral (retired) Syed Imdad Imam Jafri (CEO Yohsin Solutions), Patrick Everts (General Manager TTC), Captain Ajmal Mahmoodi (Director MTI) and Captain Nauman Tirmizi (Director Yohsin Solutions)
Bridge the gap with offshore project and interface management
On complex EPCI projects consisting of various subcontractors, consultants and stakeholders, miscommunication can easily sink the project. To bridge the gap between all parties involved and to ensure that information and expectations are clearly communicated, proper offshore project management and interface management is required.
Interface management in the project lifecycle
To ensure successful completion of the projects, it’s important to provide interface management between parties, particularly from the start-up until the commissioning phase.
By focusing on the overall goal from a holistic perspective and not just the objectives of the specific elements of the project, you can provide for efficient and effective delivery of the project, and continuity into the operations phase which serves to enhance reputation.
It is important for your Interface Management Program and offshore project management team to understand all the stages in the Value Chain to ensure common purpose when transferring responsibility, care and custody.
The project management lifecycle is depicted below:
• Initiation
• Planning
• Execution
• Monitoring
• Close Out
Benefits of interface management and offshore project management
In understanding the value chain and the overall goals, your offshore project management team and the interface management program can determine battery limits or any gaps in the scope of work. This allows you to establish an action plan that considers the cost, influence, stakeholders and interested parties.
As change is inevitable, we recommend reducing your risk and mitigating any circumstances that should arise from change. This is especially important when you manage changing relationships. With a proper interface management program, you can manage relationship changes and agree on the implementation of the program with stakeholders.
As a project gradually develops, there are often different factors that may affect the project at the start-up phase. The project management strategy should streamline all the deliverables, the start and completion dates, all milestones and responsible persons to give clarity to all parties when the project has achieved its goals. It may be required to go through the loop of planning and executing through project monitoring and the controlling process group before it entirely progresses into project delivery.
Your offshore project management team should review and validate the proposed schedule and perform assigned activities once the plan is approved before facilitating the work package definition, sequencing, and estimating duration and resources with the project team and service specialists.
For best results, choose project managers that are Certified Project Management Professionals (PMP Certified) and are working in conjunction with international standard practices and qualifications. Looking for a qualified offshore project management team that understands the big picture? Get in touch.
Offshore Project Management Institutes (PMI)
The purpose of offshore project management qualifications and regulations is to provide a foundation for offshore project management knowledge and represent the four areas of the profession, namely:
- Project
- Program
- Portfolio
- The organisational approach to project management.
They are the foundation on which practice standards and industry-specific extensions are built.
It is important to ensure that your project delivery covers activities after mobilisation through the execution of the plans and acceptance of the product at the site or the transfer to another project phase.
MARSOL’s approach to offshore interface management
MARSOL strives for stakeholders’ satisfaction through facility protection at the lowest possible cost. Our capabilities and approach are tailored to maintain the intrinsic value of the asset and uphold warranty protection. We ensure all stakeholders agree on the preservation plan and there is smooth handover to the operator or O&M Contractor.
Our interface management envisions the “Missing Man” concept. It aligns the operational, design and maintenance philosophies and fulfils the workability by design and suitable local environment and conditions. It ensures that the terminal is fit for purpose, and optimises OPEX for continuity and long-term involvement (i.e. completion, reputation, and warranty protection).
MARSOL’s interface management ensures that all aspects are understood, and the gaps are identified, thus eliminating a snowball or risk, and avoiding a shift in liability.
Conclusion
Choosing the right offshore project management or interface management team is a difficult decision given all the factors involved, but the decision to include proper project management and interface management is a no-brainer. Find out if we are the right team for you. Get in touch.
A closer look at Oil Tanker Operations
For effective SPM functioning, one requires various vessels, resources and protocols to ensure safe and efficient tanker mooring and unmooring at the SPM. Of course, for the entire ecosystem to function, tanker operations must also be accounted for. But what does that entail?
Tanker operations overview and objectives
This ranges from tanker berthing, hose connection and disconnection services to product transfer services and oil spill response services as required at the SPM. It is important that you cater for this with specialist personnel for maintenance and supervisory roles such as Project
Managers, Work Managers, Buoy Maintenance Superintendent, Mooring Master, Dive
Supervisors and Tanker Teams on a short and long-term basis.
To ensure that tanker operations at a Single Point Mooring Marine terminal are safe, on time and consistent in consideration with company requirements, your tanker operations plan should take Operation Manuals, HSE and necessary risk assessments into account.
Pilot Services
Pilot services should maintain that all operational personnel demonstrate a commitment to health, safety and environmental policies, and international best practices during tanker operations.
If you are outsourcing tanker operations, it is important that your service provider acknowledges overall accountability for ensuring that they moor the tanker and unberth it from the buoy in the most efficient and safest manner possible.
Emergency Response Services
As part of your SPM operations and maintenance strategy, you should include studies and plans for pre-emption and fast reaction. In case of an emergency on the terminal, all transfer operations are ceased immediately, and equipment is secured as appropriate. It is necessary that swift and appropriate action be taken to minimise the effect of a contingency and this can only be done with a good plan and well-trained personnel.
Any incident on board a vessel operated should be responded to rapidly and in an efficient manner so that the personnel and asset safety is not compromised and we minimise any environmental impact.
In the case of oil spills, MARSOL firmly believes that prevention is better than cure. That is why we have thorough planning and preemptive studies to prevent them altogether. We help the client to identify high-risk areas during contingency planning which allow us to define priorities for protection in the event of an emergency and plan the appropriate response strategies.
That being said, should an oil spill occur, MARSOL oil spill response team can get the job done.
It is important that the oil spill response team, as part of tanker operations, ensures that the affected areas achieve the acceptable level of cleanliness using cost-effective and environmentally friendly cleaning techniques. Utilising a team of qualified personnel, one should rapidly respond to recover lost hydrocarbons and deliver safe methodologies to minimise the amount of waste generated and impact of any release.
Tanker Operations: Training
It is important that one recognises the importance of developing and training the skill set of local resources. That is why MARSOL has embarked on a continuous improvement programme in improving the knowledge base of our Centre of Excellence, under the management of our Human Resource department.
We recognise that developing local resources is both prudent and cost-effective and adds significant value to the local community.
Conclusion
When dissecting tanker operations you will find that there is far more than meets the eye. At MARSOL, we commit to protecting the reputation of all stakeholders of the terminal, the environment and the personnel involved not only with rapid emergency response but with proven methods and protocols that favour sustainability.
Can you service provider say the same? Get in touch.
Set up your SPM hose test plan
It has been said that hoses are the lifeline of your SPM. Unfortunately, they are also the most vulnerable part of your offshore terminal. To ensure that your hoses are well maintained and reliable, it is important to put an SPM hose test plan in place.
How frequently should I test my SPM hoses?
Hose manufacturers and OCIMF other operators vary on the life expectancy of a hose, but they rarely vary on the requirement for regular testing. Hoses need to be tested every 3-5 years because they deteriorate as they age.
What should an SPM Hose Test Plan include?
OCIMF guidelines offer a range of tests that need to be performed. We have included this list below:
Your terminal, however, is unique and it is important that you inspect your hoses for any known cause of concern. If your area is known for fluctuating temperatures, for example, you may need to test more frequently and pay attention to obvious degradation and other superficial damage that may otherwise be disregarded. Here, it is important that your testing team have the industry knowledge and experience required to offer you the most comprehensive testing tailored to your terminal, without breaking the bank on unnecessary items (or increasing risk!)
Find out more about MARSOL’s OCIFM testing in this case study.
Hose Testing records
Testing records are to be kept accurately and consistently with as much detail as possible. This is important because any new teammates that come on board should be able to analyse the history of your terminal at a glance, using the records.
This type of big picture data will also help you to approach your terminal operations in a holistic way, enabling you to identify the root cause of certain issues. By understanding the root cause of an issue, you can invest CapEx to enhance and optimise your SPM, instead of burning through your OpEx treating the symptoms every year.
Classification Society will review the testing records as part of the special surveys.
SPM Hose Testing does not mean replacing
When you test your hoses frequently, you will be able to predict possible failure before it occurs. This means that your hoses can be replaced or repaired following tests in order to extend their lifespan. This decision of whether or not your hoses are to be replaced or reused is not to be taken lightly. Make your decisions based on accurate data accumulated at YOUR terminal.
MARSOL proposes that you make the most of your change out by replacing failed hoses with new ones or previous spares which have remained unused, but within their design life. Older, serviceable hoses can be kept as spares in case of emergency. It is important to have spares as this will save you downtime should you be faced with an unforeseen event.
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Conclusion
Skimping on an SPM hose test plan is not a good idea, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend money in places that do not benefit you. The best way to make the most of your SPM hose test plan is to have a team of experts tailor it to your terminal.
Offshore Terminal Risk Management: How to avoid consequential cost
Whether financial or reputational, consequential costs of unmitigated risks or unexpected events can harm your company. As in most industries, the offshore oil and gas industry holds a great amount of risk. Avoiding risk is not possible, but a holistic offshore terminal risk management plan can make all the difference.
What is a holistic offshore risk management plan?
Looking at risks in isolation can blind you to their overall consequences and potential for snowball effect. This can cause you to misjudge the likelihood of the risk to occur and the severity of the outcome.
A holistic offshore terminal risk management plan looks at the bigger picture, taking into account fiduciary duties, design, operations and protocols to draw inferences and connections between the risks at hand. Find out more about MARSOL’s holistic approach here.
As every offshore terminal is unique, it stands to reason that every offshore risk mitigation plan must be too.
The terminal risk management plan is not a stagnant document buried in your ‘what if’ vault. Instead, it acts as a process, integrated with your project lifecycle.
The goal of a holistic offshore risk management plan
First and foremost, as with any risk mitigation plan, the holistic offshore terminal risk management plan aims to protect the stakeholders’ interests, but it also aims to achieve integrity management through a single point of responsibility or single custodian of the process, while maintaining cost efficiency.
Finding the root cause
For an offshore risk management plan to work effectively, it must be proactive, not reactive. For this reason, your maintenance team should not be chasing symptoms and effects. Instead, cast your attention to finding the root cause by means of data collection and analysis.
Some items for your SPM integrity management and risk mitigation plan to consider:
- Records control/data collection
- Assets & Spares Management
- Preservation and Maintenance
- Compliance to Guidelines
Having this control point or custodian perform the appropriate risk mitigation tasks at regular intervals of your process helps you to identify potential points of failure and to manage them proactively.
Managing Potential points of failure
Adding another dimension to the classic bowtie analysis, MARSOL’s holistic approach uniquely makes room for adjustment and interference before the effect and eventual consequences follow.
CAUSE → EFFECT (perception snowball) → CONSEQUENCES
In most cases it is lack of maintenance (CAUSE) that causes damage to assets and potentially the environment. (EFFECT). The Consequences, however, may include scenarios like the Tanker making protest letters that could affect how your insurance deals with a claim.
Consider for example these causes, effects and consequences:
In order to effectively integrate your offshore risk mitigation plan into your terminal operations, you can consider an activities layout similar to the MARSOL layout below.
This type of activities layout combined with the integrity management process flow above should provide you ample opportunity to investigate root cause and management potential points of failure before consequences set in, but as every terminal is unique, we suggest booking a consultation to discuss your terminal conditions for best results.
Isolating consequences to avoid the snowball effect
The snowball effect occurs when a single event triggers a second event and the second event causes further events.
When a snowball effect occurs, the root cause becomes harder to identify, and many O&M providers may end up treating what they believe is the root cause, but instead, it is merely a second or third effect caused by the initial trigger.
Such occurrences raise doubt in your company and can escalate the concern to reputational damage such as loss of trust, and financial implications such as work stopping or legal consequences.
Conclusion
As with all aspects of the offshore terminal, risk must be considered holistically. If you do not understand the bigger picture, unforeseen consequences can creep in and harm your company. Don’t let that happen to you. Get in touch for a consultation about offshore terminal risk management today.