ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) has been appointed by Shetland Islands Council to undertake a 'practical, pragmatic and independent audit' of their Marine Safety Management System to ensure compliance with the UK Port Marine Safety Code.
Shetland Islands Council is the Harbour Authority responsible for the operation of a number of ports, harbours and pier facilities around the Shetland Islands, including the principal ports of Sullom Voe and Scalloway Harbour.
ABPmer will review and update the current navigational risk assessments for the Port of Sullom Voe and create navigational risk assessments for Scalloway Harbour. For both processes it will use its specially developed MarNIS 'Port Assessment Toolkit'. ABPmer has developed the MarNIS Toolkit specifically for the management of marine navigational risk assessments, recording marine accidents/incidents and providing information for Board Level reporting.
ABPmer will also provide an independent Designated Person function to Shetland Islands Council to monitor and report compliance with the 'Code'.
Claire Brown, ABPmer Project Director, said "We are delighted to be undertaking this Marine Safety Management System Review for Shetland Islands Council. ABPmer has undertaken a number of marine risk management studies and helped Harbour Authorities comply with the requirements of the Port Marine Safety Code. We look forward to bringing our experience to this project."
ABPmer has 60 years port related research and consultancy experience and appreciates that the successful operation of ports, harbours and wharfs is dependent on understanding both the marine environment and port operational requirements.