It is the first time ever that Ship to Ship transfer regulatory framework is presented holistically in one reference. Ms. Despoina Vourlidi delivered a comprehensive knowledge for the statutory framework and its impact on liabilities of individual stakeholders that participate in ship-to-ship transfer operations.

Although STS Operations have relatively recently being regulated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) within MARPOL, still the best industry practices reflected through the OCIMF STS guidelines play the most important and significant role in safeguarding safety by defining the duties of all involved parties. Liabilities rests mainly with the shipowners who have the statutory duty to safeguard safety.

The actions of all parties though, play a significant role to the extent that the shipowner is liable. There are means to have all liabilities safeguarded and Ms Despoina Vourlidi has delivered in a very comprehensive way the applicable methodologies available through the IMO regulations.

I also must emphasize and acknowledge the importance of the contribution of DYNAMARINe UK Ltd to the support and development of the work presented herewith.

Dr. Alexandros Glykas
Professor in Maritime Technology and Policies & Director of DYNAMARINe

PREFACE FROM THE EDITOR
TERMS AND ACRONYMS
MESSAGE FROM THE WRITER

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. THE TRANSHIPMENT OF CARGO AT SEA
   2. DESCRIPTION OF THE REGIME OVER THE STS OPERATIONS
   3. SCOPE OF THE MANUSCRIPT
   4. METHODOLOGY
   5. THE OUTLINE
   6. KEYWORDS
2. THE STATUTORY AND INDUSTRY GUIDELINES’ FRAMEWORK
   1. INTRODUCTION
   2. MARPOL REGULATION
   3. CHAPTER 8 OF MARPOL ANNEX I
   4. THE MANUAL ON OIL POLLUTION, SECTION I, PREVENTION OF THE IMO
   5. THE ISM CODE – ITS VALUE ON THE STS
   6. OCIMF GUIDELINES
3. SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER ELEMENTS
   1. INTRODUCTION
   2. THE STS ELEMENTS RELEVANT TO THE SHIPOWNERS
   3. STS ELEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHARTERER
4. THE PROCESS OF THE STS OPERATION
   1. INTRODUCTION
   2. STS PHASES
5. DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES AND STAKEHOLDERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
   1. INTRODUCTION
   2. DUE DILIGENCE – A CONTRACTUAL DUTY
   3. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUE DILIGENCE PROCESS IN STS
   4. DUE DILIGENCE, TRANSPARENCY AND STS SERVICE PROVIDERS
6. RISKS AND LIABILITIES
   1. INTRODUCTION
   2. EXPOSURE, DUE DILIGENCE AND PREPAREDNESS
   3. EXPOSURE FROM AN INCIDENT
   4. NEGLIGENCE IN “MANAGEMENT” VS THE ISM CODE
   5. INSURANCE AND SEAWORTHINESS IN STS
   6. LIABILITIES OF THE STS SERVICE PROVIDERS
   7. THE RISK OF THE CHARTERER
7. CONCLUSION
   1. THE IMPACT OF THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED
8. REFERENCES
9. INDEX
10. TABLE OF INTERNET SOURCES