Shipping Standards

Under the umbrella of shareholder and stakeholder protection, Shipping Standards’ role covers a range of activities concerned with the critical aspects of marine risk assessment and management. A broader governance remit will see greater activity in this division as it assists Shell companies in raising their marine standards and business performance.

Another vital element of our work is to ensure that operating units can mount an effective response to shipping casualties.

We are responsible for developing and administering well-defined Group standards for ship employment – a key element to the effective management of marine risk. These standards are supported by our vetting processes, centred on STASCO’s SAFE 2000 system.

Constant maintenance and updating of the system’s database and the expertise of a team of marine professionals ensures that tonnage available for use by any Shell company meets international requirements and robust industry standards.

Direct on-line access is provided, with information or advice readily available round the clock.

We are also responsible for developing standards, procedures and guidelines to assist operating units to establish local or regional vetting schemes to improve the management of risk associated with the employment of local tonnage, principally small coasters, barges and bunkering craft. A focal-point has been established within STASCO’s Vessel Quality Assurance team with the prime remit to support Shell companies to develop their own suitable vetting processes.

A global database for the small ship and barge vetting is being developed.

Health, safety and environment advice is provided for all the Group’s marine businesses. We actively support the work of leading relevant industry associations, such as OCIMF, and through them, participate in the work of  IMO, particularly on environmental issues. STASCO attends the Tanker Operators’ Informal HSE Forum. Safety audits of sites where STASCO staff work are also conducted.

Based on the Shipping and Marine Business Model which captures all elements of the shipping activities, reviews (Shipping and Marine Business Review - SMBR) are conducted as a governance assurance process for all Group Businesses with exposure to shipping. The review samples the entire scope of operation, including the documentation, implementation and effectiveness of processes that are required in the areas of emergency and crisis incidents, shipping standards and the ship/shore interface. The commercial and support aspects of the operation are also included, targeting areas for improvement e.g. oil quality and quantity, ship demurrage, competency profiling and internal audit. Concurrent with the SMBR, the Business's HSE MS, as it relates to shipping and marine activities, are conducted. These satisfy the Group requirement that HSE MS's are subjected to independent audits.