Tools of the SMS trade

Demonstrating the new Offshore SMS app: Steve Fraser of Offshore SMS (right) with Ian Melrose from MelShel Oysters on Tasmania’s east coast.

Online tools are making it easier for busy vessel operators to stay on top of their safety management systems (SMSs). Working Boats looked at a couple of these SMS support aids to find out what they do and how they can help.

By Simon Enticknap

Do you have an SMS sitting in a folder somewhere gathering dust? A compliant SMS needs to be a living document, regularly updated in response to changes in work practices. That’s not always easy with a paper-based document, requiring effort (as well as a printer) to incorporate new safety procedures, make updates or log any operational changes.

To address this issue, some commercial vessel operators are moving to cloudbased solutions where their SMS is kept online—accessible by all the crew at all times—and incorporates smart functions such as inspection alerts, checklists and real-time logs.

Offshore SMS

One such system is Offshore SMS, developed by Hobart-based abalone diver, Steve Fraser. Struck by the amount of paperwork involved in maintaining an SMS, Steve started to look for alternative methods of record keeping. Fortunately, he is also a software developer so he decided to move his SMS online, creating a simple website where he could store and update it as needed.

Soon other fishers started to take an interest and so Offshore SMS was born as a commercially-available cloudbased storage service. Today it is used by hundreds of vessels, offering a mix of free and paid-for plans suitable for operations ranging from single operators up to large fleets.

Features include a step-by-step guide for developing an SMS from scratch, pre-start checklists for daily safety routines, crew induction checklists and maintenance logs.

Offshore SMS is now available as an app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

A maintenance Fiix

Tracking vessel maintenance is a key aspect of any active SMS, not only recording when work is performed on a vessel but also ensuring that scheduled maintenance is carried out when required.

To assist with this task, the Commercial Vessels Association (CVA) developed an industry-specific template for use with the popular Fiix computerised maintenance management system (CMMS).

Fiix is a cloud-based service used by many companies around the world to manage their maintenance needs. It enables users to list their mechanical assets, including spare parts, and log any maintenance work when it is carried out. It can also trigger alerts when scheduled servicing is needed and generate reports on machine utilisation.

The service ranges from a basic free option up to premium paid-for services. It is scalable from a single operator up to multiple sites.

The CVA pre-formatted template covers the regular maintenance schedules for machinery and equipment typically used on a commercial vessel, which can then be tailored to suit individual operators.

The template also includes a prepopulated list of safety equipment for commercial vessels. Used in conjunction with Fiix, this not only serves as a handy checklist of what’s onboard, but also notifies users of upcoming safety inspections and expiry dates.

Such online tools can provide the foundation for building and reviewing your SMS, so long as they are tailored to address the safety requirements of your individual operation and not used as a one-size-fits-all solution.

offshoresms.com.au commercialvessels.org.au