Management of Change (MOC)- General Ideas how these are applied Onboard Ships? | Chapter 01-06
By: Safety Sea-Man
To all our Safety Sea-Men and Women onboard all over the world, you may already be familiar or have heard about this term Management of Change (MOC) and may have used this process in the past. For those who are not yet familiar with this term and its processes, then let me explain this in more general details.
Note: Please always refer to your company SMS, as below are just general ideas and your SMS may have specific instructions and processes which may be different from other companies.
Management of Change (MOC) is a critical process in the maritime industry that ensures the safe and effective implementation of changes onboard ships. MOC is a systematic approach used to identify, assess, and manage potential risks associated with changes in ship operations, equipment, procedures, or personnel.
Onboard ships, the MOC process is applied to any changes that could impact the safety, security, or environmental performance of the vessel. This includes changes to equipment, procedures, technology, personnel, regulations, or any other aspect of ship operations. The goal of MOC onboard ships is to prevent accidents, incidents, and environmental harm by carefully evaluating and managing the risks associated with changes.
The MOC process typically involves several key steps:
- Identification of change: The first step in the MOC process is to identify and document the proposed change. This could be a change in equipment, procedures, personnel, or any other aspect of ship operations.
- Risk Assessment: The next step is to assess the potential risks associated with the proposed change. This involves evaluating the impact of the change on safety, security, and environmental performance, as well as identifying any potential hazards or concerns.
- Approval Process: Once the risks have been assessed, the proposed change must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate authorities from onboard the ship. This may involve obtaining approval from ship’s management, the flag state, classification society, or other relevant stakeholders.
- Implementation: After approval has been obtained, the change can be implemented onboard the ship. This may involve training crew members, updating procedures, conducting tests or trials, or making physical modifications to equipment.
- Monitoring and Review: Once the change has been implemented, it is important to monitor its effectiveness and review its impact on ship operations. This may involve conducting audits, inspections, or evaluations to ensure that the change has been successful and that any issues or concerns are addressed.
So, Safety Sea-Men and Women, by following the MOC process onboard your ships through your specific SMS instructions, shipping companies can effectively manage changes and ensure the safety, security, and environmental performance of their vessels. MOC helps to minimize risks, prevent accidents, and ensure compliance with regulations, ultimately leading to safer and more efficient ship operations.
– SS-M
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