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Plan for and manage port emergencies and periods of disruption

URN: PSSHM112
Business Sectors (Suites): Harbour Masters
Developed by: Port Skills & Safety
Approved on: 30 Jul 2020

Overview

This standard covers the competence required to plan for and manage port marine emergencies and periods of disruption.
It includes determining potential navigational and non-navigational emergencies; the preparation, exercising and operation of a port emergency response plan; discharging responsibilities under civil contingencies legislation; contributing to business continuity; responding to a marine pollution incident.

The role requires the interpretation and application of, and compliance with, relevant international and national regulations; local legislation, codes of practice, standards, frameworks and industry guidance.

Target Group

This standard applies to individuals who have a duty to facilitate the safe and efficient use of the harbour.  Typically, this will be the Harbour Master or Authorised Deputies with delegated powers.

Note that in this NOS, unless otherwise specified, the term port may also mean harbour.  However, the term harbour does not necessarily mean port.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. assess the types and potential consequences of navigational and non-navigational port emergencies:

    1. based on assessment of port hazards, risks and controls
    2. in consultation with stakeholders

  2. develop an integrated Response Plan for port emergencies and circulate it to appropriate stakeholders

  3. resource the port emergency Response Plan including equipment:

    1. purchase/replacement
    2. inspection
    3. maintenance and repair

  4. exercise the port emergency Response Plan 

  5. review the port emergency Response Plan:

    1. periodically
    2. in light of new information

  6. implement the response plan in the event of a port emergency

  7. contribute to the development of an effective port Business Continuity Plan

  8. determine the types and potential consequences of port pollution incident:

    1. based on assessment of port hazards, risks and controls
    2. in consultation with stakeholders

  9. develop a port counter-pollution plan to minimise navigational, environmental, commercial, and reputational impact and circulate it to affected stakeholders

  10. resource the port counter-pollution plan including equipment:

    1. purchase/replacement
    2. inspection
    3. maintenance and repair

  11. exercise the port counter-pollution plan 

  12. review the port counter-pollution plan:

    1. periodically
    2. in light of new information

  13. manage a pollution incident, minimising navigational, environmental, commercial, and reputational impact

  14. respond to third party enquiries concerning emergencies or pollution incidents

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. ​international and national regulations; local legislation, codes of practice, standards, frameworks and industry guidance
  2. the extent and features of the physical environment for which the harbour master has responsibility and authority
  3. the port marine operations and activities typically undertaken in the physical environment for which the Harbour Master has responsibility and authority and/or which might impact on the safe and efficient use of the harbour
  4. current port marine regulations, guidance and codes relating to emergencies and pollution incidents

  5. potential port emergency and pollution incident:

    1. types
    2. severity categories 
    3. likely consequences

  6. the types of port emergency or pollution incident control measures and their respective benefits/constraints

  7. how to assess the emergency/incident mitigation effects of control measures
  8. who the appropriate port emergency and pollution incident stakeholders are
  9. the powers and working practices of statutory and other organisations that may be concerned with responding to a port emergency or pollution incident
  10. the nature of the interaction between the port and statutory or other organisations, including the extent of the port’s obligation to cooperate on emergencies or pollution incidents
  11. how to develop effective relationships with statutory and other organisations that might be involved in an emergency or pollution incident
  12. how to design and run a response plan exercise 
  13. how to manage media enquiries in the event of an incident

  14. Principles of business continuity planning and:

    1. which core operations, services and resources need to be sustained
    2. national business continuity guidance
    3. how to discharge responsibilities under civil contingencies legislation

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

31 Jul 2025

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Port Skills and Safety

Original URN

PSS HM112

Relevant Occupations

Harbour Masters, Harbour Masters and those with delegated Harbour Master powers

SOC Code

1241

Keywords

safe and efficient use of the harbour, harbour, marine, port, harbour master, deputy harbour master, port marine emergency, marine emergency, navigation emergency response, civil contingency, business continuity, pollution, assistant harbour master