Number:
TP
13585
E
Details: Marine Safety Management System (Online Manual) - Policy
1. Policy Objective
1.1 This policy outlines the requirements to authorize an Offshore Supply Vessel ( OSV ) to transport industrial personnel to and from offshore installations.
2. Policy Statement
2.1 Industrial personnel transported by OSV s are classified as passengers and may not be considered crew members despite their obvious high level of familiarization with emergency and evacuation procedures gained through mandatory offshore training.
2.2 OSV s with valid SOLAS certification as cargo vessels may carry up to twelve passengers without any further requirements for the vessel, crew, or the passengers (industrial personnel). However, OSV s which transport more than twelve passengers must obtain a Passenger Vessel Certificate.
2.3 A domestic Passenger Vessel Certificate valid for unlimited voyages (Canadian ports only) may be issued to an OSV by Transport Canada or by a Recognized Organization where the vessel is enrolled in the Delegated Statutory Inspection Program.
2.4 An OSV operating as a passenger vessel must carry a valid Safe Manning Document indicating the required complement and certification for transporting industrial personnel.
2.5 The construction and equipment of an OSV may differ from that of a passenger vessel. Where an OSV is unable to comply fully with the requirements of a passenger vessel, exemption from any passenger vessel regulatory requirements must be obtained from the Marine Technical Review Board ( MTRB ) before a Passenger Vessel Certificate can be issued.
2.6 The MTRB process considers each vessel on a case-by-case basis. The Board reserves the right to determine the maximum amount of industrial personnel an OSV may transport. In all cases the aggregate of crew and industrial personnel shall not exceed the total amount of certified berths aboard.
2.7 The Master of the vessel shall ensure that the sections of the Boat and Fire Drill Regulations relating to the carriage of passengers onboard are adhered to. The vessel’s muster list must include the actions to be taken by industrial personnel in the event of an emergency; however they are not to be assigned specific duties.
2.8 Foreign OSV s with SOLAS certification wishing to carry more than 12 industrial personnel must obtain a passenger vessel certificate from their flag administration and must adhere to any additional requirements listed in this policy or related procedure.
2.9 OSV s transporting industrial personnel with Passenger Vessel Certificates issued prior to this policy coming into effect may continue to carry industrial personnel until the Passenger Vessel Certificate expires. A new Passenger Vessel Certificate must then be obtained as per the process outlined in the procedure CERTIFICATION OF AN OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSEL AS A PASSENGER VESSEL.
3. Scope
3.1 This policy applies to OSV s, used for the transportation of industrial personnel on domestic voyages, that are registered in Canada or foreign OSV s operating in accordance with Coasting Trade Act.
3.2 This policy does not address the process of transferring industrial personnel from OSV s to oil and gas installations and vice-versa. Provisions for this are addressed within IMO Resolution A.863(20), Code of safe practice for the Carriage of Cargoes and Persons by Offshore Supply Vessels ( OSV Code).
4. Authority
4.1 This policy is authorized by the Marine Safety Executive and is accordance with the objectives of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
5. Responsibility/ further information
5.1 The Director Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight is accountable for the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the policy.
5.2 Regional Directors are responsible for the application of this policy.
5.3 Comments or queries related to this policy and its application should be addressed to:
Manager, Flag State Inspection Standards
Phone: (613) 991-3142;
e-mail: insp.stand-norm.insp@tc.gc.ca
6. Related Documents
6.1 Hull Construction Regulations
6.2 Stab 5 from TP 7301 Stability, Subdivision and Load line Standards
6.3 TP 10943 - Passenger Vessel Operations and Damaged Stability Standards (Non-convention vessels)
6.4 Crew Accommodation Regulations
6.5 Maritime Occupational Health and safety Regulations
6.6 Lifesaving Equipment Regulations
6.7 The OSV Code
6.8 Marine Personnel Regulations
6.9 Boat and Fire Drill Regulations
7. Background
7.1 OSV s, which differ from passenger vessels in construction requirements, are currently allowed to transport up to a maximum of 36 industrial personnel in Canada where the vessel meets an established standard of equivalency. This standard is detailed in a letter, dated 23 June, 1998 and signed by the Director General of Marine Safety. Written on behalf of the Board of Steamship Inspection the letter has been viewed and interpreted as a Board Decision and will expire in 2012.
7.2 The carrying capacity of OSV s and their use in the transportation of industrial personnel to offshore installations has evolved and increased in Canada in recent years. This is due in part to increased oil and gas exploitation off the East Coast of Canada, recently imposed restrictions on helicopters used in the transportation of workers and other limitations on flying due to weather. These factors combined with the upcoming expiration of all Board Decisions place a greater emphasis on the need to re-evaluate the use of OSV s and their capacity to carry industrial personnel.
7.3 Other flag administrations vary on their application and interpretation of the carriage of industrial personnel on OSV s and there is no one single standard to adhere to although it is an industry practice to use a combination of air and marine modes of transportation.
8. Definitions
8.1 Offshore Supply Vessel: a vessel used for the transportation of stores, materials, equipment or personnel to, from and between offshore installations.
8.2 Industrial Personnel: individuals carried aboard an OSV who are employed in a phase of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral or energy resources on or at an offshore installation and who hold a valid MED or BST training certificate.
8.3 Offshore installation -means a marine structure located at an offshore site. The term includes: fixed production platforms; floating production platforms; floating storage units; any unit certificated as a mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) or mobile offshore unit (MOU); accommodation units; seismic vessels; floating production, storage and operations units ( FPSO , FSO, FSU or MOSU); and maintenance units.
9. Date of Application
9.1 This policy is effective from the date on January 01, 2012.
10. Date for Review
10.1 This policy will be reviewed 12 months after it has come into effect and at intervals of five years after the initial review.
11. RDIMS Reference
11.1 The English version of this document is saved in RDIMS under reference number 7034364. The applied naming convention is (PUBLICATION – TP 13585 – POLICY – TRANSPORTATION OF INDUSTRIAL PERSONNEL ON OFFSHORE SUPPLY VESSELS).
11.2 La version française du présent document est dans le SGDDI et porte le numéro de référence 7173263. La règle d'affectation des noms est (PUBLICATION – TP 13585 – POLITIQUE – TRANSPORTATION DU PESRONNEL INDUSTRIEL A BORD DES NAVIRES RAVITAILLEURS AU LARGE).
12. Keywords
- Offshore Supply Vessels
- Industrial Personnel