Page 15 - Thome Group News Issue 45

Current Environmental compliance drives inthe companyBy Capt Atul Vatsa,Head of Environmental ComplianceHow to support the fleet?Email id: environmental.compliance@ thome.com.sg.• Aim is to have a function to monitor bilge and waste generation/ disposal/ landing by on-board/ ashore.• Assistance required to address any deviations in close liaison of VM/FGM.• Various bilge waste & related MARPOL issues will be monitored by the ECD.Further, on a case by case basis,these activities and/or record keeping will be reviewed collectively with respective vessel VM’s / FGM, in areas requiring attention and brought up by respective fleets.• MARPOL equipment failure (OWS, ODME, bilge pump, incinerator, sewage treatment plant, etc.)• Critical spare ROB’s for MARPOL equipment.• Dealing with issues when discrepancies in ORB are identified by VM/FGM or by the vessel.• Any transfer requests made by vessel to vessel managers/ FGM to a non- approved tank because of a high build- up of sludge/ bilge.• Any planned cleaning of the bilge holding tank.• Matters of unusual bilge / sludge build-up.• Sewage handling.• Tag seal logs.• Sludge disposal planning if ashore. • Any modifications proposed/suggested/ recommended forMARPOL equipment.• Any PSC Inspection observationsconcerning MARPOL issues and its CAR/ follow up by the respective fleet.ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENTThe Environmental Compliance department is an independentunit headed by Capt Atul Vatsa and supported by two compliance managers, Bindu Shekhar Jha and Jambunathan Raju. Both Bindu and Raju come from within the fleet groups and their expertise will help in the growing department. The intention is to grow the team to10 auditors.Compliance program objectives• Protect the Thome Group and its employees against the high risks of environmental non-compliance.• Environmental audits and environmental compliance programs have become more important in compliance management as costs and legal penalties for non-compliance become more severe.• Promote efficient, safe operation.• Maintain open, professionalcommunication between the office and those on-board.Compliance program mission• Policies: Evaluate and help establish preventive measures to deter and detect environmental violations by employees.• Training: Implement a training program to ensure program knowledge, motivation and to facilitate teamwork.• Audits: Assess and verify effectiveness of measures and their implementation through audits of ships and shore-side organizations.• Response: Investigate and analyze potential or actual violations and high-risk conditions; report and provide recommendations forresponse actions and improvement of preventative measures.Why are we here?• Thome is committed to MARPOL Compliance• Support vessels’ efforts to comply • Audit• TrainingWhat is expected?To ensure the EMS is compliedwith both onshore and onboard, the department will have the responsibility for overseeing the development, implementation, and management by focusing on the following:• Conduct on- board forensic audits.• Coordinate with the all stakeholders. • Implement the Company’senvironmental audit and trainingprograms.• Provide regular coaching/training (on-board and ashore).• Responding to queries onenvironmental related issues andpotential pollution incidents.• Monitor, audit, review and evaluateenvironmental objectives and results based on internal and external audits and customer feedback.• Guide the Master and CE to conduct periodic on-board training.What’s involved in the audits?Personnel conducting environmental audits shall carry out:• On-site coaching for crew members aswell as the audit itself.• Address the specific concerns andneeds of personnel.• Be “hands-on”.• Include issues raised from audits. • Recent developments in applicablelaws and policies.DECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE 47 | 15