Quarterly December 2008 - Odfjell

QM Corner
If it is unsafe - don’t do it!
Prevention is better than cure
It’s all about the little things!
By Leif Gunnar Alvær
All business activities, not least in the
chemical trade, involve an element
of risk. Therefore proactive risk
management is needed in all units.
− Identification of hazards
− Risk assessment
− Risk prevention, and
− Risk protection
Risk management in everyday life
When crossing the street we usually do a
quick risk evaluation.
Hazard: May get hit by a car.
Assessment: Consequence may
be serious. Without
precautions the probability
is high.
Prevention: Run quickly. Look out.
Move to a safer place.
Wait for green light.
Avoid crossing.
Protection: Use helmet, boots and
gloves. Have good medical
care. Have insurance.
As you see there are many possibilities.
In most cases reducing the probability
of an adverse occurrence is better than
reducing its consequences.
Perception of what is an acceptable risk
level is individual, and it could be difficult
to judge how safe is “safe enough”.
It may be better to ask yourself: “Is it
unsafe”? If the answer is: “Yes”, don’t
do it!
More formal everyday risk management
activities are referred to as Safe Job
Analysis (SJA) or Task Risk Assessment
(TRA).
Systematic risk management
There are many threats to consider
in our global business, and their
consequences may be serious injury,
fire, groundings, pollution, lost clients,
fines or ruin. But, hazards need not
be as dangerous if we apply active and
systematic risk management to handle
them. Good knowledge, best practices,
experience feedback and proper working
procedures reduce the probability of
something going wrong. Personal
protection, life saving equipment,
contingency preparedness and insurance
are factors that may reduce the possible
consequences if something nevertheless
should go wrong.
To avoid accidents or even disasters
we must make sure that what we have
decided to do to manage the risk is
implemented. Ensuring compliance with
plans and procedures is another piece of
the same story – quality management.
CORPORATE QUALITY
MANAGEMENT MANUAL
Table of Contents
Definitions
Introduction
2006 Q2
Mission and Policies
Organisational structures
2008 Q1
Responsibilities
2006 Q4
Human Resource Management 2007 Q2
Common Directives
2007 Q4
Processes and elements of
Quality Management
2007 Q3
Quality Management System 2007 Q3
Quality Assurance and Improvement 2006 Q3
Event Analysis
2008 Q2
HSE Management
2007 Q1
Risk Management
2008 Q4
In today’s tough market it’s an objective
in itself to operate as effective as
possible, something we all aim for on a
daily basis. The brokers strive towards
maximum tonnage utilisation, the
operators for voyage and port turnaround
optimisation. Our port captains
further assist our agents with ensuring
maximum efficiency in our port calls.
The same applies for our vessels,
where masters and chiefs all work to
achieve the most efficient usage of their
respective vessels. Small adjustments
can mean huge savings.
An example of the latter; one of our
vessels had an ETA Port Said 06:00 am.
To reach the convoy she was not required
to arrive before 19:00 hrs, with that
meant a waiting time at the anchorage
for about 13hrs. However, the operator
in agreement with the captain decided
to reduce the speed, causing the vessel
to arrive at 15:30 instead of 06:00. The
vessel had a net saving of more than 45
mt fuel which amounts to thousands of
US dollars. All because the master and
the operator were alert and focused.
Energy saving is good for the
environment and the economy
Energy saving is obviously targeted
throughout our organisation, and Odfjell
Tankers recognises the need for a
common strategy on how to utilise the
energy. Odfjell Tankers has therefore
proactively initiated a project called
Energy Management Project (EMP). The
purpose of this project is to work towards
a common Energy Management Strategy.
A great deal of the EMP will then be to
identify best practices and distribute this
knowledge to all vessels. Moreover, the
better we become to utilize the energy,
we are not only saving the environment,
we are also saving costs.
Members of the EMP: From left Leif Gunnar Alvær, Siri Anne Mjåtvedt, Tony Martin Fjellanger,
Erik Hjortland. Sigmund Larsen, Geir Bjørndalen and Geir Almestad were not present when the
photo was taken.
A multi-disciplinary project
The EMP is multi disciplinary with
members from operations, chartering,
ship management and technology.
A significant key success factor of
the project is of course an open and
constructive communication with our
seafarers. We therefore encourage
everyone with questions, possible
initiatives or just plain criticism, to
contact us. We have already received
good initiatives from some of our vessels
and superintendents. As a wise man
once said; “Don’t reinvent the wheel, just
realign it.”
Weather routing
Currently we have started a few
initiatives, and more are to follow.
Firstly we are testing weather routing.
Weather routing is based on the master
informing a third party provider with
voyage relevant data. This includes
departure/arrival, trim etc. The master
then receives a recommended route
suggestion based on actual weather data
and weather forecasts. This will ensure
that the vessel can choose not only the
safest route, but also the route with the
shortest sailing time. Better information,
shorter and safer voyages not only
lightens the master’s burden onboard
but also saves us energy.
“Energy Management is all about the
little things.”
For feedback, questions or good
suggestions, please use
energy.management@odfjell.com
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