Marine salvage companies meeting in Malta this week decided unanimously to progress a project to produce best practice guidelines for Marine Casualty Management. The guidelines will assist governments, shipowners and managers, port authorities and other interests directly involved in ship salvage operations.
For several years the International Salvage Union (ISU) has proposed the production of best practice guidelines for Marine Casualty Management (MCM Guidelines). At its Annual General Meeting in Malta, ISU members endorsed the project to complete guidelines for circulation and use by salvors, shipowners and coastal states worldwide. The intention is to complete the guidelines during 2009.
Need for Specific Guidance
Commenting on the initiative, President of the ISU Arnold Witte said that although IMO offers general direction in some cases, “[w]hat is missing is specific, comprehensive guidance on best practice throughout the entire casualty management process. The MCM Guidelines will fill that gap and, in doing so, will sharpen and enhance marine emergency response capabilities worldwide. Our intention is to consult with our maritime industry partners when finalising the guidelines.”
The Guidelines
The guidelines will include provisions on:
– Pre-event preparations for effective response.
– Special considerations relating to specific casualty types (for example, collision, fire, grounding).
– First response actions (shore-side and salvor mobilisation, together with ship-board response).
– Preparing and implementing the Salvage Plan.
– Progressing the salvage operation (including pollution prevention and public issues).
– Re-delivery of the casualty.
– Key factors contributing to successful salvage and pollution prevention.
Publication of salvage awards
During the Malta AGM, ISU members also decided to call for publication of Lloyds Form Salvage Awards, including the full text of the Arbitrator’s Reasons. According to Arnold Witte, “an open policy on publication would amount to a great advance in demonstrating the impartiality, validity and flexibility of the Lloyds Open Form (LOF) system in matching reward to the level of service provided.”
