Standard Club

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Master’s Guides

The guides were created by harnessing the professional knowledge of the former seafaring members of our loss prevention team, combined with input from relevant industry experts. 

The aim of the guides is to provide practical and technical advice that will serve to eliminate claims deriving from common errors and mistakes during routine shipboard operations.

The guides make excellent training manuals and are free to download and use:

A Master's Guide to Fire Safety on Ferries, 2021

A Master's Guide to Fire Safety on Ferries, 2021

The purpose of this guide is to promote best practice in fire safety, and to raise awareness of fire risks in general and fire risk on ferries in particular.

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1 Introduction

2 Basic advice

3 Basic fire science

4 Fire safety and ferry construction

5 Firefighting equipment and its use

6 Emergency preparedness

7 The human element

8 Accident investigation

9 Dos and don’ts checklist

10 Appendix 1: Case studies

11 Appendix 2: SOLAS chapter II-2, fire safety 36requirements on ship construction – fire protection, detection and extinction

12 Appendix 3: IMO Circulars

A Master's Guide to Hatch Cover Maintenance, 2021

A Master's Guide to Hatch Cover Maintenance, 2021

The purpose of this guide is to explain the key issues of hatch cover security and to steer mariners towards active maintenance. Ensuring hatch covers are well maintained reduces the number and cost of cargo wet damage claims.

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1 Introduction

2 Hatch covers and their function

3 Types of hatch covers

4 Basic advice

5 Common false beliefs about hatch covers

6 Leakage problems

7 Use of sealing tape and foam fillers

8 Leak detection tests

9 Monitoring and inspection

10 Maintenance and repair

11 Heavy weather precautions

12 Safety when working with hatch covers

13 Appendix 1 – Procedures to open and close hatch covers

14 Appendix 2 – Hatch cover inspection checklist

15 Appendix 3 – Hatch cover operation checklist

16 Appendix 4 – Sample form for ultrasonic weathertightness test of hatch covers

A Master's Guide to Ship's Piping, 2021

A Master's Guide to Ship's Piping, 2021

Everyone knows about the effect of corrosion on a ship’s hull, but few people consider the effect of corrosion on piping. Pipes pose a hidden danger, a danger that is often neglected.

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    1 Introduction

    2 Pipes and P&I claims

    3 Basic information

    4 Pipes and ship classification societies

    5 Ships’ piping systems

    6 Pipe design

    7 Causes of pipe failure

    8 Dealing with pipe failure

    9 Pipe maintenance

    10 Pipe repair

    11 Dos and don’ts

    12 Appendix I – Mechanical joints in common use

    13 Appendix II – Pressure test procedure

A Master's Guide to Berthing, 2021

A Master's Guide to Berthing, 2021

This is the third edition of Standard Club’s guide to berthing, which was first produced in 2004. This new version includes further content on berthing aids, snap-back zones and bow thrusters. The guide also provides guidance on electronic berthing aids and detailed tug assistance.

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    1 Golden rules of berthing

    2 Ship factors that affect manoeuvring

    3 Berthing in wind

    4 Effect of current

    5 Hydrodynamic effects

    6 Berthing without tugs

    7 Berthing with tugs

    8 Berthing with anchors

    9 Electronic berthing aids

    10 Thrusters

    11 Mooring stations forward and aft

    12 Snap-back zones

    13 Fenders

    14 Tugs and pilots – legal issues

    15 Master/pilot relationship (incorporating the ICF/Intertanko/OCIMF Guide)

    16 Standard references

A Master's Guide to Container Securing, 2020

A Master's Guide to Container Securing, 2020

The purpose of this guide is to discuss container securing systems, the causes of lashing failure and to offer advice on how losses can be minimised.

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    1 Introduction

    2 Basic advice

    3 Dos and don’ts

    4 Lashing systems – common false beliefs

    5 Safe working

    6 Ships

    7 Containers 

    8 Container construction

    9 Lashing components

    10 Principles of stowage 

    11 Ship behaviour

    12 Consequences of failure – case study

A Master's Guide to the Carriage of Steel Cargo, 2020

A Master's Guide to the Carriage of Steel Cargo, 2020

This is the third edition of Standard Club’s guide to the carriage of steel cargo, which was first produced in 2009. This new version includes additional advice on the principles of stowage, weight distribution and California Block Stowage.

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    1 Steel manufacture

    2 Basic advice

    3 Steel commonly shipped by sea 

    4 Steel cargo surveys

    5 Bills of lading

    6 Steel coils and ship’s strength

    7 Principles of stowage

    8 Principles of securing

    9 Cargo officer’s duties during steel cargo loading/discharge

    10 Ship husbandry and steel cargo

    11 Safety when working with steel

    12 Appendix: Case study 1 – Damaged cargo and clean bills of lading

    13 Appendix: Case study 2 – Poor dunnage

    14 Loading checklist 

    15 Conclusion

Available in:

A Master's Guide to Enclosed Space Entry, 2020

A Master's Guide to Enclosed Space Entry, 2020

The purpose of this guide is to assist seafarers to enter enclosed spaces safely, in order to prevent enclosed space-related casualties.

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    1 Example incidents

    2 What is an enclosed space?

    3 IMO/SOLAS regulations

    4 Safety Management Systems (SMS)

    5 Enclosed space hazards

    6 Risk assessment

    7 Entry procedures

    8 Additional precautions where the atmosphere is known or suspected to be unsafe

    9 Hazards relating to ship types and cargo

    10 Managing shoreside personnel

    11 Training, drills, and rescue

    12 Appropriate equipment

    13 Conclusion

A Master's Guide to Using Fuel Oil Onboard Ships

A Master's Guide to Using Fuel Oil Onboard Ships

The purpose of this guide is to provide masters, ships’ officers and shore superintendents with a basic knowledge of the use of, and precautions to be taken when using fuel oils onboard ship.

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    1 Introduction

    2 Fuel oil and insurance claims

    3 Bunkering

    4 Documentation

    5 Storage

    6 Processing

    7 Machinery using fuel oil

    8 Additional precautions

    9 Regulations and standards

    10 Glossary

A Master's Guide to Shipboard Accident Response

A Master's Guide to Shipboard Accident Response

The purpose of this guide is to list, in simple terms, the actions that Masters should take when there is an incident or problem that may result in claims against the shipowner or manager. 

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    1 Introduction

    2 Basic Advice

    3 Avoiding Accidents

    4 Collection of Evidence

    5 Death or Injury

    6 Bills of Lading

    7 Collisions and Property Damage

    8 Pollution

    9 Cargo Loss or Damage

    10 Stowaways and Ship Security

    11 Salvage and General Average

    12 And Remember

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