India forms Working Group for offshore regulatory gap assessment and training improvement

Eda Zenic -

The Directorate General of Shipping, India has established a volunteer-based Working Group to assess regulatory gaps in offshore sector training and competency requirements, particularly in areas not covered by the STCW Convention. The goal is to enhance safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

A. Composition of the Working Group

The Working Group consists of 15 members drawn from leading organizations in the maritime and offshore sectors, representing diverse expertise. This includes professionals from companies like Aban Singapore Pte Ltd, Dynamic Drilling, Greatship India Limited, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), and Maersk Training, among others. This diversity is intended to provide a comprehensive perspective on industry practices, challenges, and potential improvements.

List of Members:

  1. Shri Shubham Khandelwal - Aban Singapore Pte Ltd / International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)
  2. Shri Sanjay Kumar Viswanatha Menon - Aban Singapore Pte Ltd / IADC
  3. Capt. Oniel V Dhir - ABS Marine Services Limited
  4. Shri Ravi Kumar Gummalla - Dynamic Drilling
  5. Shri Lokanath Tripathy - Greatship India Limited
  6. Shri Christopher Rodricks - IMCA
  7. Shri Rajeev Nayyer - Institute of Marine Engineers (India)
  8. Shri Vedant Choudhury - Sadhav Shipping Ltd.
  9. Shri K T Thomas - Seamec Limited
  10. Shri Sarthak Sinha - Shelf Drilling / IADC
  11. Shri Prasad Palakil Mavilavalappil - SHM Shipcare Private Limited
  12. Shri Devang Shah - Survival Systems India
  13. Shri Ramalingam Natesan - Westfield Energy India Pvt Ltd
  14. Shri Rajonish Boruah - ONGC
  15. Smt. Sara Verghese - Maersk Training

B. Objectives of the Working Group

The Working Group’s primary objectives are to:

  1. Analyze Existing Training and Competency Structures: The group will examine current training frameworks related to various offshore operations, including:
    • Drilling rigs
    • Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units
    • Diving Support Vessels
    • Dynamic Positioning (DP) Operations
    • Pipe-laying operations
    • Offshore Support Vessels
    • Oil Spill Response By identifying areas where these training structures fall short, particularly for roles that lie outside STCW's scope, the Working Group aims to pinpoint areas needing regulatory attention and skill enhancement.
  2. Suggest Implementation and Evaluation Guidelines: The group will focus on the execution of identified training programs and evaluate their effectiveness. Through a Training Needs Assessment (TNA), the group will determine:
    • Specific training modules required
    • Target personnel for each training program
    • Appropriate training delivery methods
    • Existing evaluation protocols and suggestions for improvement The TNA will ensure that training needs are met, delivered effectively, and assessed consistently to enhance industry standards.

C. Terms of Reference

The Working Group will address the following key areas:

  1. Training and Competency Needs Assessment: The group will assess the current training and competency requirements for critical offshore activities not covered by the STCW Convention. The emphasis will be on areas vital for operational safety, occupational health, and environmental protection, with a goal of aligning training standards with industry needs.
  2. Regulatory GAP Assessment: The group will conduct a detailed review of regulatory gaps in the offshore sector that affect training and competency standards. This includes identifying areas where regulations are absent or inadequate and providing recommendations for new regulations to address these gaps, particularly in safety-related training.
  3. Further Suggestions: Beyond regulatory and training gaps, the Working Group is tasked with suggesting additional measures to enhance training frameworks, safety protocols, and regulatory guidelines in the offshore sector. This may involve proposing new standards, identifying best practices from international contexts, or recommending specific policies to improve overall industry safety and efficiency.

D. Desired Outcomes

The expected outcomes from the Working Group’s efforts include:

  1. Development of Targeted Training Modules: The group will design or recommend training modules tailored to address identified needs. These modules will focus on specific skills and knowledge areas essential for safe and efficient offshore operations.
  2. Ensuring Uniformity Across the Offshore Industry: By standardizing training and competency levels, the group aims to create consistency across the offshore industry, ensuring that personnel meet a high standard of safety and operational efficiency.
  3. Facilitating Standardized Implementation of Training Programs: The group will provide recommendations for the smooth implementation of training programs across the sector, ensuring that new standards can be easily adopted by organizations of various sizes and capacities.
  4. Enhancing Accountability and Transparency: The Working Group will define clear roles and responsibilities within training, compliance, accreditation, and program implementation processes. This will foster accountability within the industry and help organizations adhere to regulatory standards more effectively.

Approval

This initiative has been formally approved by the Director General of Shipping, demonstrating the DGS’s commitment to improving safety, competency, and regulatory compliance in the offshore sector.