Best practices make perfect
The golden rule to successful self-assessment in dry bulk management is the application of structured practices. Focussing on safety, compliance and performance improvement in line with DryBMS standards will help ease the whole process for your organisation.
Here is a check list of best practices to make smooth sailing of your self-assessment.
- HSSE Standards: Safety on board vessels is a priority and building a strong HSSE culture across management reinforces this. Ensure senior leadership integrates safety management systems into all operations to emphasize ship safety and compliance.
- Vessel Visits & Communications: Keep operations ship shape with regular vessel visits by shore-based staff. Checks including safety on cargo ships, foster communication and accountability. Documented follow-ups on ship inspections ensure compliance with safety regulations. They also provide critical feedback to aid future actions.
- Audit and Close-out Procedures: To verify SMS effectiveness scheduled audits should be in place. Partnering this should be a close-out process for audit findings. This is essential for managing corrective actions and meeting ship safety certification requirements.
- Crew Management & Training: A key practice in any shipping operation is effective crew training and management. Employ the use of training programs that meet industry maritime standards including — ISM Code, SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, MLC 2006. Utilising programs such as these helps build staff competency and ensures operational efficiency.
- Maintenance & Dry Docking: Tracking ship maintenance and dry dock procedures are an important part of the self-assessment process. Having documentation of planned maintenance and condition-monitoring practices in order helps support vessel reliability and compliance with ship safety regulations.
- Cybersecurity in Shipping: Protection against cyber threats is essential in any shipping organisation. Implementing maritime cyber risk management ensures the safety of data and security of critical operational systems.
- Root Cause Analysis: As a short and long-term solution, applying root cause analysis addresses underlying issues and gaps. This improves ship safety and helps prevent future problems. It also aligns operations with industry standards and enhances dry bulk transport efficiency.
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