OSG vows to go beyond minimum compliance

In an effort to assure flawless operations within the OSG group, the OSG Ship Management Manila Inc. recently convened with their officers and crew to familiarize them with the company’s environmental compliance policies and programs, as well as OSG’s sincere commitment to protecting the environment. Hence, it is important for all OSG employees, both ashore and at sea, to be familiar with the company’s Environmental Compliance Plan or ECP.

By Jun G. Garcia

The ECP is a written document that prescribes the management, operational, and administrative requirements that OSG must meet to demonstrate full compliance with all applicable marine environmental protection requirements. The scope of these requirements includes applicable international, flag state, port state, coastal state law, and United States laws.

It represents a large volume of regulations including the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78), applicable Federal and state statutes and regulations such as the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA), the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Oil Pollution Act (OPA).

According to Mr. Robert Lorigan’s powerpoint, presented by C/E Artemio Fernandez, International Training Manager of OSG just like Safety, each employee has a critical part to play in developing a culture of protecting the environment. So far, OSG’s record of compliance is excellent.

OSG’s ECP defines compliance responsibilities for corporate, technical management and shipboard personnel and provisions for disciplinary action against any employee who obstructs, hinders or presents false information or makes false statements during any inspection, monitoring, or auditing, or inspection required by the ECP. It also prescribes a framework for oversight to monitor compliance, environmental training and confidential reporting system for cases of non-compliance.

The OSG Ship Holding Group, Inc. entered into a Plea Agreement with the US Department of Justice as part of the investigation regarding violations of MARPOL requirements.

The OSG took the initiative and drafted the bulk of the ECP. It also made the decision to incorporate all ECP requirements into its Management System (MS). The objective of which is to ensure that the environmental stewardship is fully integrated into its operational system for the long term, not just for the three-year probation.

“It was our commitment to make a company-wide change to improving our environmental compliance efforts across our entire fleet, not just limiting it to operations conducted in the United States,” Fernandez said.

OSG has implemented a number of innovative technologies and programs many months ahead of the commencement of the probation period. This further highlighted OSG’s policy to not only comply with the ECP but “to go beyond the minimum compliance” as OSG remains committed to continuous improvement and “Doing It Right.”

The core element of OSG’s ECP is the Open Reporting System (OR). Under this system, shore side and vessel employees were given opportunity to give feedback on issues of non-compliance with the MS, shipboard concerns about safety and environment and to make recommendations for improvement to MS.

Open Reports are strictly confidential and completely anonymous. There is a strict company policy prohibiting any sort of retaliation against those who submit a report – which is being viewed by a selected group of Senior Management. All OR are investigated by Operational Integrity Department and appropriate corrective action developed.

OSG encourages employees to comply with their responsibilities to report violations of marine protection requirements or safety concerns. Failure to comply will be a ground for disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

Reporting can be done through email or toll free telephone numbers or can also be made directly to a ship superintendent or other shore-based staff visiting OSG vessel.

Importance of Crew Conference

Knowing the fact that people need to see the different parts of an organization, Mr. Jeffrey Wilson, DPA and Safety Manger of OSG (UK), said they are able to show their seafarers the integration of the different pieces of OSG during conferences in order to get a better understanding of their roles to allow them to perform better.

“OSG is very lucky to have competent crew who are experienced and well trained. It bodes well for a well-resourced organization whose ships are well-maintained and looks after their crew’s welfare,” he concluded.

On the other hand, Capt. Ian T. Blackley, Head of International Shipping Operations and Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of OSG Ship Management (UK) Ltd. said the “seafarers are like anyone else. They want to know they have a good job for the company that appreciates them.”

He also said that “We have a conference with our officers and our ratings at least once a year. Today, we have about 140 officers, which is more than 15 percent of our total number of officers so it’s a great opportunity for senior management to talk to our crew.”

“It is not just about money. Everyone wants to be respected. They want to be treated well. They want their families to be treated well. And that’s what we do. We treat all of our seafarers in every nationality with respect and because we want them to operate our ships with high standard.

Realizing OSG customers’ demand for very high operations standards, Capt. Blackley assured that it is being provided. With that, the OSG continues to grow and in fact, it has prepared for times of uncertainties like the present global economic phenomenon.

“We are able to expand. We have managed the business very conservatively over the last 2 to 3 years which has placed us in a very good position today. We are looking at different opportunities and we expect to grow the business when time provides good opportunities,” he said.

The OSG Manila has an in-house training center in its Makati office. It has a full bridge and engine simulator, which is being used to train Filipino officers, among other nationalities. During the officers’ conference, a number of Croatian and Russian officers were also present. They were here also to get the training.

“The company operates a very sophisticated training center in Manila that not only provides inputs in ship handling and seamanship but also in the way the company wants them to behave. By building our own training centers we are able to train them the way we want for them to understand the quality of operation that we want,” said Capt. Eduard Tkalcic, Head of International Crewing.

According to him, “Manila is the best place to put the OSG House since more than 80 percent of OSG seafarers being Filipinos and more than 50 of its ships carrying full Filipino crew.”

This year’s officers and crew conference talked about OSG’s 2009 Goals and Business Forecast, Safety Performance and Security Plan, Emergency Response, Crewing Policies and Wage Structure, OSG Disciplinary Code, Raising the Bar in Ship Operation, and even clarification on the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission resolutions on the Management Level Course and the Two-Level Examination.

C/E Guilbert Llamado, Senior Manager, Fleet Personnel of OSG Manila echoed the importance of the said conference.

“It is very important to us and for our customers. The conference is to inform our people, our crew, of what is happening in the company. And what the senior or the top management expects from them,” he said.

He also reported that the retention matrix for OSG is still at 90%. He admitted though that they are not stopping people who are looking for other direction.

The company’s goal is of course, to retain all the people. The principle is: We want our people to be proud of working with OSG.

OSG is looking after their seafarers and families in best possible ways. Competitive wages, fully-sponsored training programs, various incentives, HMO insurance for all officers and ratings plus three family members, spacious OSG House with fully integrated deck and engine simulators, training allowances, sponsored license review and exam costs.

What is most important, OSG care about safety of their seafarers and their motto is: Do It Right. We are only fully satisfied when seafarer are safely back home, reunited with their families and without any injury, Capt. Eduard Tkalcic stated during his presentation.

Big thanks goes to the organizing committee of OSG Manila Staff namely; Rodolfo Arroyo, Lynette Colocado, Rizalina Nacachi, Rechelle Echegoren and Emmylou Aldave led by Ma. Cristina Paras, President of OSG Ship Management Manila Inc.

The OSG crew conference is conducted every year. Its objective is to meet their people to help them grow as a company and to continue to provide flawless transportation to its customers while protecting the environment and keeping happy crew onboard.

One Response to “OSG vows to go beyond minimum compliance”

1. Jones Act says:

   August 4, 2009 at 8:57 pm

   It is good to know that OSG takes the training and safety of it’s crew in such high regard. Their operations standards are an industry best.