Port Marine Safety Code

The Port Marine Safety Code is a UK national standard that aims to enhance safety of everyone who uses or works in the port marine environment.

The code is not mandatory in Jersey but, in line with our commitment to provide the Island with a reliable, safe and well connected harbours, we are fully committed to following the principles of the code.

The principles of the code on gov.uk

General principles

The standards are based on the following general principles established in the code:

  • The harbour authority are accountable for their duties and powers and should measure themselves against nationally agreed standards
  • Powers, policies and procedures should be based on formal assessment of hazards and risks, and harbour authorities should have formal safety management systems
  • The aim of a safety management system is to ensure that all risks are tolerable and as low as reasonably practicable
  • Safety management systems depend upon competence standards applied to all parties involved – these have been developed in parallel to the code
  • Harbour Authorities should monitor and adopt good practice. ‘A Guide to Good Practice’ has been developed in parallel with the code.

Responsibilities

The code requires that Ports of Jersey formally identify and designate who is accountable for compliance with the code and ensuring marine safety.

Ports of Jersey has designated collectively the Jersey Harbour Authority as the Duty Holder responsible for compliance with the code and the Jersey Harbour Authority has delegated accountability for marine safety to its Harbour Master.

As the Duty Holder, the Harbour Authority will retain strategic oversight and direction of all aspects of the harbour operation and ensures that its powers are discharged but not exceeded.

The Harbour Master will retain day to day management of safety and security of the port, the control of shipping, and the exercise of legal powers through the Harbour Authority.

To provide independent assurance directly to the duty holder that the marine safety management system is working effectively, the Harbour Authority has appointed in accordance with the code a Designated Person.

The Designated Person’s responsibility is to determine, through assessment and audit, the effectiveness of the marine safety management system in ensuring compliance with the Code.