Local crew on Pritchard-Gordon Tankers benefit from safety exercise
─ Shell Company facilitates programme
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Guyanese crew members working aboard the Pritchard-Gordon Tankers (PGT) benefitted from a safety training programme today. The exercise was hosted by the Shell company through its Maritime Partners in Safety Journey with the Pritchard-Gordan Tankers Limited, at the Pegasus Hotel.
Representative and facilitator of the safety programme from Pritchard-Gordon Tankers, Nick Whalen-Griffiths said the safety of crew members is a priority for the company.
“The main focus of this seminar is to improve safety onboard our ships. Not that we have a poor safety record but there are always ways of improving safety onboard,” Whalen-Griffiths said.
PGT specialises in the ocean transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products in environmentally sensitive areas, using purpose-built, shallow draft, double hull tankers. The company offers its Charterers contracts of affreightment, time charter or spot voyage charter cover for their marine oil transport requirements. Its customer base includes Major Oil Companies, Global Oil Traders, State Oil Companies, Regional Oil Producers, Regional Oil Trading Houses and Downstream Distributors.
The Shell Maritime Partners in Safety journey began in 2011 when serious and potential incidents onboard vessels that serviced Shell business, occurred once every seven (7) days. In an effort to reduce those occurrences, in 2012, the concept of Maritime Partners in Safety was introduced. As a result of the introduction of the initiative, serious incidents were reduced to one in every 20 days.
According to Whalen-Griffiths, Guyana is the third country where they have implemented these safety measures, the United Kingdom and Poland being the other two. “We have only started this since March this year. But we are monitoring the statistics and as the word spreads we certainly expect to see a decrease in minor incidents.”
The PGT representative said over the years the company has developed a three-pillar element to reduce the incidents onboard vessels. These include leadership visits, reflective learning and learning engagements tools.
The local crew members welcomed the initiative since they believe safety programmes are never enough.
The next seminar is scheduled for October with other local crew members.
By: Crystal Stoll.
Images: Jules Gibson.