15-April-2020
In April 2020, giant bulker charterers BHP-owned Rightship, Cargill, Rio Tinto and giant shipowners have joined forces to establish Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS). Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) aims to increase cooperation in dry bulk market and conclusively improve standards for dry bulk managers and crews.
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) is voluntary based programme which is designed to allow ship managers to measure their Safety Management System (SMS) against agreed industry standards. Therefore, Dry Bulk Management Standard’s (DBMS) objective is to go beyond ISM Code measures. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) constitute new regulations to increase safety standards in dry bulk sector. Currently, Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) is a voluntary programme for dry bulk shipowners and operators, but Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will become a licence to trade. By the help of Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS), shipping companies will subsequently meet their obligations towards society. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will assist to perceive things differently and improve shipping standards. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will gradually raise the level of safety of dry bulk sector.
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will assist to improve bulk shipping company’s management system by regularly measuring their general operation, classifying their weaknesses in different aspects of their operation and allowing for the implementation of best practices and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will sustain them to slowly achieve their safety and environmental objectives. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will bring self-regulation and self-assessment to dry bulk shipping. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will bring safety culture across dry bulk industry instead of mandatory certifications.
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will set benchmark to dry bulk company’s management system. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will provide guidelines, expectations and targets to dry bulk shipowners and ship-managers. These guidelines will focus on thirty (30) subjects of management practice across the four (4) most serious risk areas in bulk operations:
1- Performance
2- People
3- Ship
4- Process
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will accelerate shipowners and ship-managers’ Safety Management System (SMS) against expectations and targets without involving the burdens of excessive inspections.
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will not be a replacement for the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code). However, Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will provide a methodical progress to motivate ship-managers to shift from minimum compliance to operational perfection. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS), will improve safety standards of the dry bulk segment. Furthermore, Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will increase dry bulk market standards and will supply an obtainable benchmark for maritime perfection.
Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) resembles the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) which manages benchmarks for the tankers. Since 1983, Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s (OCIMF’s) SIRE programme (Ship Inspection Report Programme) has been improving safety standards of tankers and offshore rigs. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will not be a stand still programme, guidelines and standards will continuously upgrade and modernize with on-going feedback from ship-managers. Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS) will provide safe, compliant, environmentally friendly operations to all dry bulk market players.
Besides giant bulk charterers BHP-owned Rightship, Cargill and Rio Tinto, Greek shipowners Enterprises Shipping & Trading and Neda Maritime Agency have also been cooperating for Dry Bulk Management Standard (DBMS).