Members of the International Salvage Union have unanimously endorsed a project to produce Guidelines for Managing Marine Casualty Response (MMCR). The guidelines will assist governments, shipowners and managers, port authorities and others directly involved in ship salvage operations.
The ISU first proposed the production of MMCR Guidelines several years ago. At this year’s Annual General Meeting, held in Malta, ISU members backed the plan to progress and complete the guidelines during 2009.
Commenting on this initiative, ISU President Arnold Witte (picture) says: “There is existing IMO guidance on places of refuge and on general issues relating to the control of ships in emergency situations. What is missing is specific, comprehensive guidance on best practice spanning the entire casualty management process. The MMCR Guidelines will fill that gap and, in doing so, will sharpen and enhance marine emergency response capabilities worldwide. We will consult with our industry partners when finalising the guidelines.”
The MMCR Guidelines will include provisions on:
– Pre-event preparation for effective response;
– Special considerations concerning specific casualty types (e.g. collision, fire, grounding);
– First response actions (shore-side and salvor mobilisation, together with shipboard response);
– Preparing and implementing the Salvage Plan;
– Progressing the salvage operation (including pollution prevention and public interest issues);
– Re-delivery of the casualty;
– Key factors contributing to successful salvage and pollution prevention.
Source: ISU Salvage World, December 2008
