CTI has presented plans to address these impacts to ensure that the proposed project will, upon implementation of specific agreed measures, comply with applicable environmental, health and safety (EHS) requirements, including: international maritime standards under SOLAS, MARPOL, the International Safety Management (ISM) code, and World Bank/IFC environmental and social policies. The information about how these potential impacts are being addressed by CTI is summarized below.
- Environmental, Health and Safety Management Systems
CTI’s management processes are structured to meet the safety and environmental requirements of the relevant international maritime codes – IMO, ISM, MARPOL, SOLAS. The Technical Manager has the appropriate responsibility and authority to manage EHS matters, and EHS procedures for shipboard operations are described in the company’s policy and procedures manual. The company has well established training programs for both its shore-based and ship personnel.
CTI was independently audited in 2003 with respect to compliance with ISM code for Bulk Carriers and other dry cargo vessels, and has been issued a Document of Compliance (DOC) certificate valid through 2008. During its three year history of ship management, CTI has experienced only one major incident – an engine room fire caused by a failure to comply with the safety procedure for hot work. To prevent reoccurrence going forward, the Company will ensure that procedures in the ISM Procedures Manual are more strictly followed.
- Vessel Safety and Pollution Control
Engaged in the transportation, loading and discharging of bulk cement, CTI’s fleet is operated to comply with appropriate and relevant international safety and pollution control requirements. Hulls are periodically inspected for corrosion, and repaired to maintain structural integrity. Vessels can process certain ship-generated wastes and effluents – domestic solid wastes, oily wastewaters -- directly on board using installed treatment systems, such as oil/water separators and incinerators. Wastes not treated onboard, such as maintenance waste and oils, ballast water, and sanitary sewage, are stored in tanks and delivered to authorized on-shore port facilities for treatment and disposal.
CTI will confirm the effluent discharge from oil/water separators does not exceed the allowable 15 ppm MARPOL limit for oil. The company will also evaluate its fleet for compliance with new MARPOL air pollution control standards (Annex VI, May 2005) governing sulphur oxide emissions from diesel engines. These new standards require ships sailing in the Baltic Sea to use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 1.5%, or to install an exhaust gas cleaning system to reduce emissions accordingly. The company will need to be able to provide port inspectors with International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) certificates for applicable diesel engines along with other related documentation to permit operation of the ships with regard to safety and environmental protection.
The two vessels permanently operating as floating cement terminals (Stockton, California and Mesaeed, Qatar) use shore facilities operated by third parties for sewerage and waste disposal. Bag houses are installed on cement handling equipment to control dust emissions consistent with local air pollution permit requirements.
CTI has in place an adequate oil spill prevention policy and procedure, and has not experienced any oil spills over its operating history.
- Employee Health and Safety
CTI has an active occupational health and safety program designed to ensure the safety of their crews and workers, and has established a target of two personnel injuries per year for its fleet. The program includes a set of specific safety and health procedures for ship and shore-based activities. Personnel are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, and participate in extensive health and safety training programs covering fire fighting, hazardous work activities, life saving, and medical first aid. Seafarers and shore staff undergo periodic medical examinations.
There were three job-related accidents recorded in 2005 – one moderate and two minor.