OCIMF recorded more than 130 fatalities from Falls to Water incidents since 2020 — and on 12 February 2026, the organisation convened its first working group meeting to produce a consolidated industry guide addressing the hazard across vessel operations, terminals, offshore, and inland waterways. The FTW project is one of several active OCIMF 2026 workstreams with direct implications for terminal operators and tanker charterers.
Falls to Water — 130 Fatalities and a New OCIMF Guide
The Falls to Water (FTW) project covers incidents during personnel transfers, ship-to-ship operations, mooring, and the rigging of access equipment. OCIMF’s own data records 130-plus fatalities since 2020, alongside numerous serious non-fatal cases — a fatality rate that has driven the decision to produce dedicated consolidated guidance rather than address the hazard through existing programme updates.
The primary output will be a single guide covering four operational domains: vessel operations, terminal operations, offshore vessel operations, and inland waterways. For terminal operators, the terminal-specific section is the most direct deliverable — covering safe access arrangements, gangway and accommodation ladder protocols, and personnel transfer procedures at berth.
Supporting organisations include INTERTANKO, InterManager, The Nautical Institute, IMCA, the International Harbour Masters’ Association, BIMCO, Platform Zero Incidents, and American Waterways Operators. Enquiries are handled through Javed Bhombal, OCIMF Nautical Adviser.
VOC Emissions Guidance Updated for 2026
OCIMF’s Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Cargo Systems on Oil Tankers, originally published in 2019, was updated in February 2026. Four sections were revised: regulations (section 2), current practice (section 6), performance (section 9), and training (section 12). The updated paper is available free at ocimf.org.
For terminal operators, the VOC update carries direct relevance to loading operations. Vapour control at the ship-terminal interface is a shared responsibility — updated regulations and current practice sections reflect the regulatory environment tanker operators are now working within, and terminal HSE teams should review whether their own vapour management procedures remain aligned. Tank inspection standards increasingly incorporate VOC monitoring as a component of terminal safety audits.
New Danish Straits Guidance for Large Tankers
OCIMF published a new information paper in February 2026 covering large ships transiting Route T — the deep-water route through the Great Belt. The guidance responds to an increased flow of large vessels carrying hydrocarbon cargoes through the Danish Straits since 2022, a shift driven partly by changes in European energy supply routing.
The paper covers southbound passages from Skagen to Bornholm and northbound from Bornholm to Skagen. It addresses the specific navigational challenges of the route: water depth limitations, tidal currents, climatic conditions, and traffic density in a constrained waterway. Terminal operators receiving vessels on Baltic or North Sea routes — including those serving floating storage and regasification facilities in the region — should ensure vessel operators are working from current passage planning guidance.
IMO PPR 13 — Key Outcomes for Terminal Operators
IMO’s Sub-committee on Pollution Prevention and Response met 9-13 February 2026. OCIMF participated and reported the following outcomes relevant to terminal operators and tanker charterers.
Pyrolysis oils: expressions of interest were received in developing carriage requirements under MARPOL Annex II. No framework is yet agreed, but terminal operators handling alternative feedstocks should monitor progress — classification of pyrolysis oils under Annex II would impose product handling, tank cleaning, and documentation requirements.
EGCS wash water: discussions on environmental impact of exhaust gas cleaning system discharge were inconclusive. No new restrictions agreed at this session.
Biofouling: an intersessional working group will develop a statutory regulatory framework. The current voluntary guidelines are expected to move toward mandatory status — with implications for vessel operators, dry dock scheduling, and port state control.
VOC: amendments to cargo tank pressure/vacuum valve opening pressure for new crude oil tankers were agreed. This is a design-stage regulation but terminal operators receiving new crude tankers from 2026 onwards should be aware of changed P/V valve specifications when reviewing vapour control interface arrangements.
Black carbon: further scientific evidence required before regulatory action. Plastic pellets: discussions continue on a mandatory instrument for carriage requirements. NOx: new requirements for low-load engine operations are under discussion.
Mooring Equipment Guidance Revision and Structures Work
The OCIMF Structures Expert Group held its 17th meeting on 19 February 2026, led by Jeff Bayham of ExxonMobil with Gerard Spaan of Shell as co-lead. Two guidance revision workstreams are active: the Mooring Equipment Guidance (MEG) revision is scheduled to begin later in 2026, and multi-buoy mooring guidance revision is progressing through drafting. Both workstreams are being developed in collaboration with British Standards and PIANC.
MEG is the primary reference document for mooring equipment selection, inspection, and replacement at both vessel and terminal level. Terminal berth operators — particularly those handling large crude carriers or operating multi-buoy mooring systems — should track the revision schedule. Changes to MEG typically cascade into terminal mooring risk assessments and equipment procurement specifications.
OCIMF’s Direction in 2026
Director Karen Davis attended the launch of the Thun Resolve at Ferus Smit shipyard in Leer, Germany on 12 February 2026. The vessel, owned by Thun Tankers and MF Shipping Group, was designed with emphasis on crew wellbeing, safety, and environmental performance — the same three priorities running through OCIMF’s 2026 programme agenda.
The Environment Committee, chaired by Maria Polakis of BP, held intersessional meeting 11B on 17 February, covering future marine fuel options and IMO greenhouse gas working group developments. In-person follow-up was scheduled for 17-18 March at OCIMF’s London office.
On the inspection side, the OCIMF SIRE 2.0 ship hardening Focused Inspection Campaign — launched October 2025 and reviewed in February 2026 — continues to run across all inspections conducted under the programme. Captain Sashidaran Gopala’s promotion from SIRE Technical Adviser to Programmes Technical Manager signals the organisation’s continued investment in the programme’s operational infrastructure. Full background on the organisation’s structure, governance, and standards work is covered in the OCIMF profile on this site.
What is OCIMF working on in 2026?
OCIMF’s active 2026 workstreams include the Falls to Water consolidated guide, a revision of the Mooring Equipment Guidance, updates to VOC emissions guidance, new Danish Straits navigation guidance for large tankers, and ongoing management of the SIRE 2.0 ship hardening Focused Inspection Campaign. The Environment Committee is also tracking IMO greenhouse gas and marine fuel transition developments.
What is OCIMF’s Falls to Water project?
The Falls to Water project was launched on 12 February 2026 in response to 130-plus fatalities recorded since 2020 during personnel transfers, mooring operations, ship-to-ship transfers, and access equipment rigging. The project will produce a consolidated guide covering vessel operations, terminals, offshore vessel operations, and inland waterways, developed with support from INTERTANKO, IMCA, BIMCO, and other industry bodies.
What did IMO PPR 13 decide on EGCS wash water and biofouling?
Discussions on EGCS wash water environmental impact were inconclusive at PPR 13 — no new restrictions were agreed. On biofouling, an intersessional working group was established to develop a statutory regulatory framework, moving the current voluntary guidelines toward mandatory status.
Why is OCIMF’s VOC guidance update relevant to terminal operators?
The updated VOC paper, revised in February 2026, covers current regulations, practice, performance, and training for volatile organic compound emissions from oil tanker cargo systems. Terminal operators are joint parties to vapour control at the ship-terminal interface, and updated regulatory and practice sections should be reviewed against existing terminal vapour management procedures.
When will OCIMF publish the revised Mooring Equipment Guidance?
The MEG revision is scheduled to begin later in 2026, following the Structures Expert Group’s 17th meeting in February. No publication date has been confirmed. The multi-buoy mooring guidance revision is at drafting stage. Both are being developed with British Standards and PIANC involvement.