IHS Fairplay DPA Handbook

About the Designated Person Ashore (DPA):

“This is the person based ashore whose influence and responsibility should significantly affect the development and implementation of a safety culture within the Company.”

Extract from IMO Circular (MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5 section 4.1)

Shipping faces many challenges and the DPA’s role is continually evolving to meet these challenges. The DPA is essential to the safe management of the Company’s ships, the communication between ships and shore and the support given to the shipmasters and crews to enable them to do their jobs properly.

This book, published in association with Regs4ships, will be of value to both experienced and newly appointed DPAs and others at management level for its background information, safety management guidance and comprehensive coverage of many vital topics such as regulations, auditing, management systems, self-protection, accident and Near-Miss analysis and Port State Control.

It includes many practical case studies and check lists.

The author (Mick Caulkin) and his colleagues at Regs4ships are experienced Merchant Navy officers, Port State Control Inspectors, flag State surveyors and auditors.

Mick was also a founding member of the Enforcement Unit in the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and has seen at first hand the value of a Safety Management System that protects individuals and Companies; and how the lack of a system makes their defense to allegations of breaking the law very difficult.

So that this book does not date, it is presented in loose-leaf format to facilitate quarterly content updates for those wishing to receive them. An Insight section in each update will cover new law cases, accidents and matters of concern or interest.

• Hints and tips
• A “plain English” version of the ISM Code
• A breakdown of the role of the DPA
• A breakdown of key ISM words and why the Company “guarantees” the safety of each ship
• How the DPA is responsible for detecting “warning signals” and why audits must “confirm the truth” of what is happening on board ship
• DPA “triggers” or warning signs
• Management of Change
• Management of No-Change
• Assessing the status of the Safety Management System and aligning that to safety initiatives
• A Due Diligence definition for DPAs
• The importance of Port State Control to DPAs
• The vital role of Internal Audits

The author, Captain Mick Caulkin, has worked within the maritime environment throughout his career and is considered an expert within the industry.

For 14 years, Mick served at sea on passenger ships, tankers and bulk carriers, latterly as Captain. Following a few more years at University, Mick graduated with a degree in Shipping Law and Operations and then took shore-based job in shipping operations and transport business management overseas, in New Zealand and Australia.

Upon his return to the UK, Mick spent the next six years working for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), where he gained a significant reputation as a Surveyor of Ships, a Port State Control Inspector, an ISM Auditor, an Examiner of Masters and Mates and, latterly, as an Enforcement Officer.

In 2001, Mick and two of his colleagues, the original Enforcement Team at the MCA, formed a company called Marine Enforcement, now known as Regs4ships Limited. Over the last ten years, Mick has specialised in maritime safety management. He now works at the highest level, training regulators and inspectors, undertaking specialist risk audits for insurers and the development and delivery of management-level training for activities like MARPOL compliance, ECDIS implementation and the roles and responsibilities of the DPA.

During his time with Regs4ships Limited, Mick has also led several major projects, including the ISPS Code activities successfully delivered for scores of vessels, the introduction of ISM systems to many vessels and managers. His training and lecturing activities take up a good proportion of his time, along with his collaboration on many pan-European projects.

The role of the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) was first detailed in ISM Requirement No. 4 and additional guidance was provided in IMO Circulars MSC-MEPC.7/Circ.5 and 6 issued in 2007.

These Circulars were included in the 2010 edition of the ISM Code to give them greater prominence.

It is therefore very timely that a practical guide covering the role and responsibilities of the DPA has been published.

Shipping faces many challenges and the role of the DPA is continually evolving to meet these challenges. The DPA is essential to the safe management of the Company’s ships, the communication between ships and shore and the support given to the shipmasters and crews to enable them to do their jobs properly.

This book will be of value to both experienced and newly appointed DPAs and others at management level for its background information, safety management guidance and comprehensive coverage of many related topics.

DPAs are the front line of safety management and shoulder the burden of this responsibility.
This book is an important contribution to support them.

Captain Andy Winbow
MSc. FNI. FCIArb.
IMO Director of Maritime Safety