STS (ship-to-ship)
operations refer to the transfer of cargo from the cargo hold of one tanker to
that of another. The operation is mandated by a number of special safety
procedures.
STS operations
In Danish waters, most STS
operations take place in Aalbæk Bay at Frederikshavn in Northern Jutland or on Danish EEZ. In
the tables below, you can find more information about the number of STS
operations, where they are carried out and how much oil is transferred.
So far, no STS operations
have been reported for Greenland waters.
In 2018 the first STS
operation with liquefied gases was performed in Danish waters.
STS operations in Danish
and Greenland territorial waters
Tankers carrying out STS
operations in Danish and Greenland territorial waters are covered by the
provisions of the order on STS operations.
Read the order on STS operations.
According to the
regulations, STS operations must be carried out under the guidance and
supervision of an approved STS operator and in accordance with the most recent international industry
recommendations. The Danish Maritime Authority approves STS operators upon
application. STS operators must pay the costs related to the approval. Approved
STS operators must use a quality management system that ensures that their
tasks are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the order.
List of approved operators.
The Defense Command, Naval
Staff, as well as the Arctic Command must be informed about the transfer and
tankers carrying out cargo transfers in Danish territorial waters are covered
by the obligation to take a pilot in accordance with the pilotage act.
STS operations outside
Danish territorial waters
As regards STS
operations outside territorial waters, the provisions of United Nations'
International Maritime Organization (IMO) apply. The regulations stipulate that
the operation must be carried out in accordance with an approved plan, which is
made on the basis of the ship's construction, equipment and valid industry
guidelines for "best practice" in the area. In addition, the
operation must be reported to the relevant authorities in the coastal State.
Furthermore, HELCOM (Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission - Helsinki Commission) has developed a set of recommendations for guidelines on bunkering operations and ship to ship cargo transfer of oils in the Baltic Sea Area. HELCOM is the governing body of the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area.
Read more about HELCOM guidelines
In 2018, 62 STS operations were performed outside Danish territorial waters but inside the Danish EEZ. The quantity transferred however was only 151.627 tonnes of which only three operations involved the transfer of more than 5.000 tonnes. In all cases the transfer dealt with bunker oils, being transferred to small tankers approved to perform bunkering operations in Danish territorial waters. Bunker ships which subsequently distributed the bunker oils to other cargo ships for their daily power consumption.
Read more about STS operations.
Inspections
The Danish Maritime
Authority carries out inspections of operations in Danish and Greenland waters
on the basis of random checks. In the table below, you can find more
information about the inspections carried out by the Danish Maritime Authority.
