The original edition of this publication was released in 1991 to describe how to make the very best of the training and education opportunities available on board. Since then, three more editions came and each time the content was revised and new information added. The introductory part of the document will give readers some necessary insight into the relevant regulatory framework including the ISM Code and MLC Convention.

The main part of the material is divided into nine chapters, the first chapter dealing with proper organization of the training on board any ship. The second chapter provides some valuable advice to the shipboard staff assigned the trainee roles. The third chapter is devoted to the resources including CBT, i.e. computer-based training, video training, planning of the training, assessment and other aspects, while the fourth chapter addresses the record keeping.

The competence assessment, opportunities for training and associated responsibilities are dealt with in the next two chapters. the remaining chapters deal with the senior officers and Masters, company training policies, and other information. Four appendixes supplement the main content of the booklet, giving necessary examples.

The present training resource has been specifically published for the young officers who are aspiring to get to the position of the Chief Officer. It will also be useful to the people just promoted to this position. It is a very practical publication which is mainly dealing with the real world of the ocean and vessels rather than purely theoretical; the authors have discussed different important problems that are commonly encountered by the Chief Officers of the vessels in their day-to-day operations.

In fact, there are many publication available today, teaching the students the proper way to perform the numerous tasks that are making up their professional duties. All of them are very helpful when used for the professional training; however, the most important issue is to try to learn how to correctly blend the possible and proper in order to produce a desired feasible result getting us and the vessel through the unscathed days.

That is why we would highly recommend this training course for all people in the industry and definitely to all desiring to become Chief Officers. The content of the volume starts with the description of the position and main responsibilities and duties assigned, and then covering all aspects of Chief Officer's work on board.

The vetting of the vessels by the charterers, sellers, buyers and all others involved is one of the integral parts of the ship operation. The shipboard incidents such as the fires and collisions, ship grounding, pollution of the marine environment and others, can all have very serious consequences for the owners, operators, ship charterers, owners of the cargo and many others. It shall be noted that the ship owner is considered responsible for the management and quality of the vessel.

But, when using a third-party ship, the charterers, ship buyers/sellers and operators of the terminals get exposed to the certain risks. The present publication was developed and released by SIGTTO in order to explain the ship vetting process and also to cover the specific aspects of vetting on the liquid natural gas carriers. The authors have supplemented the book with the several valuable practices taken from the real shipping companies.

The proper knowledge of all of this information is absolutely necessary for all people engaged in operating the vessel of the LNG type, considering all specifics of the construction and operation. All of the best practices have been covered and duly explained by the recognized industry professionals.

This popular publication is intended to describe all up-to-date electrical practices that have been employed in international shipping of today. The contents of this handbook was specifically designed to provide all required training support to the students. The specific intention of the authors was to assist the marine engineers and electrical officers in proper understanding of the shipboard electrical installations, equipment, systems and their maintenance.

The electrical power system of the vessel has been explained in terms of the main and emergency generation and distribution, including the matters of the electrical safety and associated safe working practices. The types of the faults occurring in the electrical circuits and their significant have been examined together with the different protection forms and methods. In addition to that, the book explains the construction of motors and starters as well as their operation  and protection principles.

The title includes a surveys of the variable speed control methods for motors as applicable to the vessels. Moreover, the publication describes all electrical services for ships refrigeration installations, A/C, cathodic protection, lighting and various auxiliary equipment...

The official OCIMF Code of Practice developed to provide the guidance for the countermeasures to be undertaken by the terminal operators as well as all other shore authorities against maritime piracy. The content of the guidebook helps to identify the actions considered most appropriate for each particular case.

The readers will find practical measures including both visible and organizational countermeasures and also contains a check sheet for the identification and implementation of the most appropriate responses to apprehend or at least deter maritime pirates.

Though the Code was originally aimed at the terminal operators being members of the OCIMF organization, it will also apply to all other operators and port authorities, coast guard and police officers - this list would actually include all persons engaged in such activities in one way or another and having a common aim to fight against maritime piracy and robbery.

They will find a good advice on how to overcome practical problems and get all required assistance in this compact but so comprehensive and useful publication, and get due understanding of the importance and necessity of the shore-based countermeasures..

At any given time and throughout the whole world, in any weather there are many pilots transiting to or from ships they are engaged in order to provide safe navigation from one point to another. Each of them must be embarked and disembarked in a safe manner. The transfer operations can normally be completed in numerous ways and each of these ways includes some degree of risks.

It is absolutely critical that people involved in the transfer operations are duly aware of the dangers associated with the transfer. That is why they shall all receive a good and thorough training irrespective of the method of transfer that has been chosen. Embarkation and disembarkation of the pilots would normally take place with the ship being either underway or alongside; however, it may also occur at the anchorage. For the purpose of pilot transfer the accommodation ladder, crane basket, vehicle ramp or other methods can be used.

The present publication provides readers with all required information about the pilot ladders, covering the general responsibilities of all parties involves in the transfer operation, construction of the ladders, securing the pilot ladder and providing the safe access to the ship deck, supervision etc. Shipside doors and combination ladders have been addressed separately. The book closes with the chapters on the associated equipment and lighting.

The present publication is covering all stages that shall be undertaken when preparing a good passage plan for your ship. The authors have explained all steps involves, from appraisal to the monitoring, in a logical and detailed manner. The volume shall be readily available on the bookshelf of all bridge team members regardless of their skills and professional experience, and it shall be referred to at all times.

The authors made every effort to present the relevant techniques very clearly, making the content easily understandable even to the people with not too much of the practical experience, so it is something to start with. Right now, the national and international requirements have been developed and are available for application to the passage planning. However, this volume provides a ready check sheet to be used by the bridge team to ensure that the high competency standards are met.

The document shall be used together with the Passage Planning Practice by the same authors. The fully worked example has also been provided for illustration. The passage planning using the electronic charts is covered in a separate chapter. There is also a glossary explaining the terminology used throughout the text of the publication.

The passage plan shall be prepared for all vessels and it shall cover the complete voyage starting from the berth of departure and up to the berth of the arrival. Subject plan shall be prepared in strict compliance with the recognized international/national standards and to the standing orders of the shipping company. The content of the plans shall also be following the navigational practices and standards established within the SMS, i.e. safety management system of the company.

The vessels of particular company will most probably use the same format when preparing their passage plans, though the variations commonly cause by the types of cargo and of the vessel, as their as of the commercial agreements are also possible. The passage plan that has been used within this publication is not compliant with the instructions of any specific shipping company and has been presented to serve as an example of preparation. The passage plans usually differ with their layouts.

Generally, the documents specific to the particular shipping company are used when preparing the voyage plans. The authors of this work have used the general layout for the plan, balancing on the information on the charts with the other documents relating to the passage plan. Do not forget to use all documents related to the passage plans together with the navigational charts...