At MARC we pride ourselves on our flexibility and our ability to listen to what our Clients require and to provide them with a practical, workable solution to address their needs. The highest standard of quality and personal service are at the heart of everything MARC does - we do not provide ‘off-the-shelf’ ready-made safety management systems or anything similar - our clients share our commitment to no compromise on quality and safety. We believe in building long term relationships with our clients - such relationships are built on mutual trust, respect and on an understanding of our client’s needs and requirements.
Because we are able to respond to clients requirements in such a flexible way – with our vast network of specialist Consultants – it is not possible to set out a complete list of services available from MARC. However, set out below are examples of the types of work we have carried out for existing clients – but we would be delighted to discuss with potential clients their own, specific requirements, to which we will put together a proposal – with suitable experts from our extensive range of Consultants.
In general terms MARC provides services to deep-sea commercial ship operating companies, coastal and inland vessel operators – Brown Water and Offshore Oil and Gas vessel operators and ports – as well as Industry bodies, Governmental and Intergovernmental organisations and agencies – in all aspects of safety, risk and security management. More specifically, MARC provides consultancy services in the following areas:
Health Checks and Reviews
- ISM Health Checks – Safety Management System (SMS) review
Our highly skilled and experienced Consultants will undertake an impartial and completely confidential review of how the SMS has been set up, how it has been implemented, how it is actually working in practice and how it is being monitored. The review will include both attendances in the Office ashore as well as on board a sample number of vessels from the fleet.
The Consultant will not only identify any weaknesses in the System but will be prepared to provide immediate assistance in resolving any identified problems on the spot, if that is possible, by providing guidance and training to individuals concerned.
A detailed written report will be provided and, if required, verbal feedback to the Management Team / Board will be provided to explore any issues which have come to light and to develop an effective ‘corrective action plan’ (CAP). The MARC Consultant can continue to work with the client to effectively implement the CAP.
Similar ‘Health Checks’ can also be undertaken by MARC on behalf of P&I Clubs, H&M Insurers, Charterers, Mortgagee Banks and other similar third parties interested in conducting a really meaningful Risk Assessment on a potential, or indeed existing, client.
Each ‘Health Check’ is custom made to fit the individual client’s requirements. A Consultant with the relevant experience and expertise of not only Safety and Quality Management Systems but also the type of vessels and operation will be paired up with the client to ensure compatibility.
- On-board Navigation and Bridge Team Management / Bridge Resource Management reviews
Most navigational accidents - such as collisions, groundings and strandings – occur as a result of one of the following causal factors:
- Poor / inadequate navigational practices;
- Poor / inadequate Bridge Team Management (BTM) / Crew Resource Management (CRM) Practices; or
- Poor / Inadequate Passage / Voyage Planning.
Often problems in these areas are not detected during normal Company Internal or External SMS Audits – since those audits tend to take place whilst the ship is tied up alongside a berth in port.
The latest amendments to the STCW Convention and Code – the 2010 Manila Amendments – which will come into force in January 2012 – require Masters, and Deck Officers to have undergone BTM / CRM Training as well as training in ECDIS and other Electronic Navigational Aids.
MARC Consultants can travel with a vessel and conduct an audit of Navigational Practices and BTM / CRM Practices and provide practical help and guidance, where necessary, to help improve relevant operational standards on board.
The Consultants will be Class One Master Mariners – including Pilots - with recent seagoing experience – who are well acquainted with modern Navigational Bridge Equipment and BTM / CRM philosophy.
Such attendances can be as a ‘stand-alone’ or as an extended ISM Health Check.
A cost estimate will be proposed and agreed with client in advance to ensure that MARC provides exactly what the client requires.
- Port Safety and Security Management
MARC can provide Consultants with relevant experience and knowledge to work with Port Administrations in conducting Risk Assessments and developing Safety Management Systems which will control and manage risk in the port area. Particular expertise is available to ensure that the ship / shore interface is managed adequately and effectively.
Clearly different ports have different requirements – for example the requirements of a container terminal will have different requirements to a LNG Gas Berth or a Passenger Terminal. MARC Consultants can bring the relevant expertise to work with the relevant Terminal Operator to help develop, implement and monitor effective safety, quality and security management systems.
- Documented Systems reviews and improvements
We believe strongly at MARC that the Company itself MUST accept ownership and responsibility for its own Management Systems – whether they are Safety, Quality or Environmental systems. As such MARC does not offer a service to provide ‘off-the-shelf’ Management Systems or sets or ready-made Procedure Manuals. What MARC will do, however, is to work with a ship operating company in developing, implementing and monitoring its own Management Systems. We have, amongst our Consultants, some of the most experienced people in the business.
MARC can also undertake an impartial, independent but confidential review of the documented procedure manuals, checklists, guidance notes and other documents underpinning a QMS or SMS – and provide advice and guidance on how the documented procedures could be improved, or refined or even reduced to a more manageable level.
Training
MARC can provide the highest quality training for shore staff and sea staff – delivered ashore or on-board ship – tailor made to satisfy client’s specific requirements. Amongst the MARC team are very experienced trainers in all aspects of risk and safety – as well as many other peripheral areas.
Training courses will be developed to accommodate the client’s specific requirements – and the training will be provided by individuals who do have direct and relevant experience in the particular area. The following are examples of training courses which have been provided to existing clients – and which can be easily adapted to the requirements of a new client – but bespoke training courses can be developed to meet a client’s specific requirements:
- Risk Assessment and Risk Management
- Accident / Incident Investigation
- Human Factors and Accident Prevention
- Management of Change
- ISM Code – theory, practice and updating
- DPA awareness
- Vetting inspections and preparation
- Piracy prevention
In addition to this type of training course – MARC Consultants can also provide on board Life Saving Appliance and Fire Fighting Drill Training as well as Risk Assessment, Work Planning, Permit to Work, Tool Box Talk training – as well as specific safe working practice training and familiarisation.
MARC can also provide high level training to senior levels of management in a wide range of related areas including:
- Risk Awareness and how to manage and control operational risk
- Corporate and Individual exposure to potential legal liabilities – and how to avoid them
- Motivation – leadership – teamwork – developing a one-team safety culture
- Corporate risk management
These are only examples – mainly based on training programs already delivered – but MARC is capable of developing bespoke training courses to meet the specific needs and demands of individual clients.
Talk to us and let’s explore your needs and requirements – at MARC we do have the knowledge, skills and experience you need to help make your organisation safer and more risk averse.
Research
Included amongst the MARC Directors, Management and Consultants are leading Maritime Academics and other Maritime Professionals capable of undertaking a wide range of research projects for Governmental, Intergovernmental and Industry requirements. Key players in MARC have undertaken research on behalf of:
- United Nations
- International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
- European Union (EU)
- European Investment Bank (EIB)
- European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
- Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC)
- UK Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA)
- International Chamber of Shipping (ICA)
- International Shipping Federation (ISF)
MARC is in a unique position to provide research into not only the maritime sector but also to bring in the vast wealth of knowledge, experience and learning from most other high risk industries from around the world to provide valuable insight – particularly in the field of human factors and accident causation – to help understand why accidents happen and what needs to be done to prevent such incidents. That collective knowledge and experience can, and must, be used to help the maritime sector to operate in a safer, more efficient and more profitable way. MARC can help ship operators move towards that goal.
