PPA maintains a rigid safety standard, PPA is a member of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (O.C.I.M.F.) and as such follows procedures and safety practices recommended by this international organization. Vessels shall adhere to all normal safety precautions as required by the IMO / OCIMF / SIGTTO and other industry bodies.
The ship’s master is presented with a form entitled “Terminal Ship / Shore Safety Checklist”. After a detailed review of each safety item with the Loading Master/terminal representative, the master must sign the form. Before the start of operations, and from time to time thereafter, a member of the terminal staff, where appropriate together with a responsible officer, will make a routine inspection of the ship to ensure that the ship / shore safety checklist requirements are observed by both the ship and the shore crew. In cases of blatant or repeated infringements of safety requirements, or where corrective action is needed, the terminal representative will not agree to operations commencing, or should they have been started, he will require them to be stopped and the Harbour Master will have the right to remove a vessel from the berth.
Internal transfer of cargo within port limits of any Petroleum Ports, for whatever reason, because of the associated risks of potential oil spill, over/under pressurization of tank walls or pipelines, shall not be allowed unless authorized by the Port Authority, basis a comprehensive Risk assessment by the Vessel which is agreeable to the Port authority and after a written assurance by the Master of the visiting vessel that all the essential measures and precautions are in place.
No loading / unloading facilities exist in the Port area for cargo vessels and such vessels must provide all equipment and machinery to facilitate transfer of cargo to / from barges, lighters, etc. at the designated anchorage area.
The cleaning of cargo tanks in closed conditions on board a tanker is only allowed if the tanker is appropriately equipped and the cleaning takes place in accordance with the cleaning handbook as referred to in MARPOL. All tank cleaning must take place in full compliance with the vessel’s COW or P & A manual.
It is prohibited to carry out Tank cleaning / Inerting and / or purging operations within the Port limits without prior permission from the Harbour Master.
If a vessel discharging Crude Oil at any of the Petroleum Ports intends to carry out Crude Oil washing, a request must be sent directly to the relevant terminal with a copy to the Harbour Master of the respective Port.
If a terminal accepts COW request, the concerned terminal and the vessel shall ensure that Crude Oil Washing is conducted subject to the following;