2 Terms and Definitions
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.1079(28) – Recommendations for the Training and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs) – (Adopted on 4 December 2013) - Annex – Recommendations for the Training and Certification of Personnel on Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs) - 2 Terms and Definitions

2 Terms and Definitions

 For the purpose of these Recommendations, the terms used have the meanings defined hereunder:

  2.1 Administration means the Government of the State whose flag the MOU is entitled to fly.

  2.2 Ballast Control Operator (BCO) means the person assigned responsibility for the normal day-to-day control of trim, draught and stability.

  2.3 Barge Supervisor (BS) means a person who may provide support to the offshore installation manager (OIM) in certain essential marine matters. The barge supervisor on some MOUs may be referred to as the stability section leader, barge engineer or barge master.

  2.4 Certificate of competency (CoC) means a certificate issued and/or endorsed by the Administration for offshore personnel in accordance with the provisions of these recommendations and entitling the lawful holder thereof to serve in the capacity and perform the functions involved at the level of responsibility specified therein.

  2.5 Certificate of proficiency (CoP) means a certificate, other than a certificate of competency, issued to offshore personnel stating that the relevant requirements of training, competencies or seagoing service in these recommendations have been met.

  2.6 Coastal State Administration means the Government of the coastal State concerned in cases where a MOU is engaged in exploration for, or exploitation of, the seabed and subsoil thereof, adjacent to the coast over which the coastal State exercises sovereign rights for the purposes of exploration and exploitation of its natural resources.

  2.7 Company means the owner of the Mobile Offshore Unit (MOU) or any other organization or person such as the manager, or the bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the MOU from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed on the company by these recommendations.

  2.8 Documentary evidence means documentation, other than a certificate of competency or certificate of proficiency, used to establish that the relevant requirements of these recommendations have been met.

  2.9 Dynamic Positioning System means a system whereby a self-propelled MOU's position and heading is automatically controlled by using its own propulsion units.

  2.10 Emergency preparedness training means training which prepares individuals to respond adequately and safely to anticipate emergency situations.

  2.11 ISPS Code means the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code adopted on 12 December 2002, by resolution 2 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as may be amended by the Organization.

  2.12 Maintenance supervisor (MS) means the person assigned responsibility for the inspection, operation and testing, as required, of all machinery and equipment as specified by the owner of the MOU. The maintenance supervisor on some MOUs may also be referred to as the chief engineer, technical section leader or rig mechanic.

  2.13 Maritime crew comprises the OIM, barge supervisor, ballast control operator and maintenance supervisor as well as other deck and engineer officers, radio operators and ratings as defined in regulation I/1 of the STCW Convention, as amended.

  2.14 Maritime safety training means training with respect to safety of life at sea, including personal and group survival.

  2.15 Mobile offshore accommodation unit is a unit the primary purpose of which is to accommodate personnel working offshore.

  2.16 Mobile offshore drilling unit is a unit capable of engaging in drilling operations for the exploration for, or exploitation of, resources beneath the seabed such as liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons, sulphur or salt.

  2.17 Mobile offshore units (MOUs) means vessels which can be readily relocated and which can perform an industrial function involving offshore operations other than those traditionally provided by vessels covered by chapter I of the 1974 SOLAS Convention. Such MOUs include at least the following:

  • .1 column-stabilized unit is a MOU with the main deck connected to the underwater hull or footings by columns or caissons;

  • .2 non-self-propelled unit is a MOU not fitted with mechanical means of propulsion to navigate independently;

  • .3 self-elevating unit is a MOU with movable legs capable of raising its hull above the surface of the sea;

  • .4 self-propelled unit is a MOU fitted with a mechanical means of propulsion to navigate independently;

  • .5 submersible unit is an MOU with a ship-shape, barge-type or novel hull design (other than a self-elevating unit) intended for operation while bottom bearing; and

  • .6 surface unit is a MOU with a ship- or barge-type displacement hull of single- or multiple-hull configuration intended for operation in the floating condition.

  2.18 Mode of operation means the condition or manner in which a MOU may operate or function while on location or in transit. The modes of operation of a MOU include the following:

  • .1 Operating conditions: conditions wherein a MOU is on location for the purpose of conducting operations, including drilling and production activities, and wherein combined environmental and operational loadings are within the appropriate design limits established for such operations. The MOU may be either afloat or supported on the seabed, as applicable.

  • .2 Survival conditions: conditions wherein a MOU may be subjected to environmental loadings in excess of those established by the MOU's operating manual. It is assumed that routine operations will have been discontinued due to the severity of the environmental loading. The MOU may be either afloat or supported on the seabed, as applicable.

  • .3 Transit conditions: conditions wherein a MOU is moving from one geographical location to another.

  • .4 Combined operations: operations in association with, or in close proximity to, another mobile offshore MOU or offshore installation, where conditions on the other MOU or installation may have an immediate impact on the safety of the MOU; for example, a mobile offshore drilling MOU attached to a fixed platform.

  2.19 Muster list means the list prescribed by an international convention or recommendation which applies to the MOU. If no convention or recommendation applies, it means a similar list which indicates essential information on actions to be taken in the event of an emergency, in particular the station to which each person should go and the duties which that person should perform including the designation of individual responsibilities for the safety of others.

  2.20 Offshore installation manager (OIM) means a competent person, certified in accordance with these recommendations, who has been appointed in writing by the company to manage the offshore activities of the MOU.

  2.21 Offshore Personnel means personnel on board the MOU as indicated in section 5.1.

  2.22 Other mobile offshore unit is a MOU which may be involved in any single offshore activity or combination of offshore activities such as:

  • .1 construction;

  • .2 maintenance (including the maintenance of wells);

  • .3 lifting operations;

  • .4 pipe-laying and related operations;

  • .5 emergency/contingency preparedness, including firefighting;

  • .6 production systems;

  • .7 accommodations;

  • .8 storage systems; and

  • .9 diving.

  • MOUs do not include vessels such as:

  • .1 supply vessels;

  • .2 standby vessels;

  • .3 anchor-handling vessels;

  • .4 seismic vessels;

  • .5 ship-shape mono hull diving support vessels; and

  • .6 special purpose ships.

  2.23 Person in charge (PIC) means the person on each MOU to whom all personnel are responsible in an emergency. This person should be designated in writing (with title) by the owner or operator of the MOU. The PIC may be the Master or OIM.

  2.24 Security duties include all security tasks and duties as defined by chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974, as amended) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

  2.25 Ship security officer (SSO) means the person on board, accountable to the PIC, designated by the company as responsible for the security of the MOU, including implementation and maintenance of the ship security plan and liaison with the company security officer and port facility security officers.

  2.26 Special personnel means all persons carried on board a MOU in connection with the special purpose of the MOU or with special work being carried out on the MOU, and who are neither seafarers nor directly or indirectly paying passengers.


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