Training And Health Safety
No berthing or mooring procedure can be safely conducted unless the vessel has trained mooring crew’s standing-by and for the pilot or ship’s master to have confidence in those mooring boat crews and mooring gangs. With this in mind, all Sunderland Foyboatmen helmsmen have at minimum of 5 years mooring boat experience and are trained to MCA standards or above.
All Sunderland Foyboatmen personnel receive full inductions prior to their first attendance and are accompanied by a senior member of our mooring staff at all mooring operations to cover both shore side working as well as working in mooring boats for their first 2 years. From years 3 to 4, personnel can work (under the guidance of senior members of staff) on all vessels up to and including 10000 gross weight. In year 5 they can attend all vessels unsupervised. In addition, we carry out extensive Risk Assessments and issue Method Statements for all our mooring operations services, which all working personnel are briefed on and familiarize themselves with, along with all PPE and company Health & Safety Documents, so all safety procedures are adhered to during all mooring and unmooring operations.
All Sunderland Foyboatmen mooring crews are in constant contact with the Port Of Sunderland VTS and vessels which they attend via VHF marine Radio’s and are fully equipped with the latest PPE safety equipment, which meet or exceed MCA Code of Practise for the Safety of Small Workboats. The National Occupational Standards for Marine Operations (Ports) 1998. Statutory Instrument 1992 No.3139 The Personal Protective Equipment (EC Directive) Regulations 1992 and also the Port Of Sunderland Mooring Operations.
All Sunderland Foyboatmen personnel operate in crew’s of between 2 and 4 men depending on size of vessel they are attending and are fully licensed from the Port of Sunderland (Harbour Master) and inspected on a regular basis by the MCA.
Sunderland Foyboatmen continually review their existing and new operations using Risk Assessment and Method Statements processes, to ensure that the hazards and controls are still relevant, this minimizes any risk and that any job specific controls or risks are identified.
