TANKER MANAGEMENT & SELF-ASSESSMENT GUIDE

1. Who has developed and produced the Tanker Management and Self-Assessment Guide?
a) The Oil Companies International Marine Forum.
b) The International Maritime Organization.
c) The International Chamber of Shipping.
d) The International Transport Workers’ Federation.

2. Which system, previously developed by the OCIMF, promotes common, uniform and high standards in
the inspection of tankers?
a) The Ship Inspection Report Exchange (SIRE) system.
b) The International Safety Management (ISM) Code.
c) The Tanker Vetting Database.
d) The Port State Detention Register.

3. The Tanker Management and Self-Assessment Guide enables measurement of management practices
against which of the following?
a) Key Performance Indicators.
b) Industry Best Practice.
c) Company-generated ISM / CDI checklists.
d) Port State inspection criteria.

4. How many elements of management are defined in the TMSA Guide?

a) 12.
b) 4.
c) 6
d) 16

5. What is the period of validity for the statutory TMSA Inspection Certificate?
a) TMSA is a management tool. No statutory certificate is issued.
b) 1 year.
c) 5 years.
d) 5 years, subject to internal annual self-assessments being filed with OCIMF.

6. Industry Best Practice is seen as achieving which of the following?

a) The optimizing of performance in crucial management areas.
b) Ensuring only minimum criteria are met.
c) Levels of safety incidents in tanker operations acceptable to certain charterers when measured as an average
over a five-year period.
d) Providing an effective substitute for company quality assurance programs.

7. Which of the following is the SOLAS definition of a company?

a) The owner of the ship or any other organization or person, such as the manager, or the bareboat
charterer, who has assumed responsibility for the operation of a ship from the owner and who, by
assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over all the duties and responsibilities imposed by
the ISM Code.
b) The owner of the ship or similar organization which has assumed responsibility for the technical and crew
management of a ship and who has agreed to enforce the duties and responsibility imposed by the ISM
Code, but specifically exclusive of the bareboat charterer.
c) An organization incorporated for the purpose of running a ship and which is in possession of a document of
registry and incorporation, a copy of which is lodged with the appropriate flag state authority.

8. A “management system” contains which of the following as key elements? (Select all applicable
answers).
a) Scope and objectives.
b) Procedures.
c) Resources responsible and accountable for implementation and execution.
d) A verification and measurement process to determine whether the desired results are being achieved.
e) A feedback mechanism to provide a basis for further improvement.
9. How does the TMSA program affect the officers and crew of tanker vessels?
a) TMSA is a management tool for the operators of a tanker vessel. Policies and guidelines implemented
by management as part of the TMSA process may be applicable to the way a vessel is run.
b) TMSA is exclusively for use by shore management offices. It will not affect officers and crew on board the
vessels, directly or indirectly, in any way at all.
c) TMSA is aimed primarily at ship’s officers and crews, but will be under the direction of the company Safety
and Quality department.

10. Which process is central to the TMSA program?

a) The quality-assessment process.
b) The SIRE vetting procedure.
c) SOLAS Chapter IX.
d) The measurement-process flow-chart.

11. Leadership at all levels is critical to the success and smooth running of an improvement process.
Effective leadership is demonstrated by which of the following characteristics? (Select all applicable
answers).
a) Realistic, yet ambitious strategy.
b) Well defined targets.
c) Accurate vision and clear direction.
d) Good communication.
e) Trust.
f) Commitment.
g) Reinforcement and support.

12. What are the elements of a continuous improvement process, as suggested in the TMSA guidelines?
(Select all applicable answers).
a) Plan.
b) Act.
c) Measure.
d) Improve.
e) Monitor.
f) Construct
g) Analyze

13. The 12 key areas of management have been identified and described in the TMSA program. How are
activities within those areas divided?
a) Into four stages.
b) Into 12 parts.
c) Into KPIs and Best Practice Guidance.
d) Into six parts.

14. As each stage in an element is completed, what must be prepared?

a) Supporting documentary evidence for senior management, thereby confirming that effective
processes and procedures are in place within the management system.
b) A completed TMSA checklist signed by every member of the applicable department.
c) A list of proposed corrective and disciplinary measures that will be used to rectify deficiencies within the area
of management.
d) A presentation by the leader of the team charged with responsibility for the specific activity, to be made to the
manager responsible for implementing TMSA overall.

15. Which of the following is the TMSA definition of “evaluation”?

a) An assessment which determines that processes and procedures are functioning and are being
executed effectively
b) An assessment which determines the quality of the processes and the degree to which the aims and
objectives are being achieved.
c) A system which compares the operational effectiveness of ships’ critical systems to international performance
specifications.
 d) The process by which management systems are audited.

16. Which of the following is the TMSA definition of “measurement”?

a) An assessment which determines the quality of the processes and the degree to which the aims and
objectives are being achieved.
b) An assessment which determines that processes and procedures are functioning and are being executed
effectively.
c) A system which compares the operational effectiveness of ships’ critical systems to international performance
specifications.
d) The calculation by which management systems are determined to comply with ISM requirements.

17. What are the “12 elements” of TMSA?

a) The key areas of management practice.
b) The crucial factors of continuous improvement.
c) The principal sections of the management review.
d) The fundamental parts of an annual assessment.

18. In discussing “Management, leadership and accountability”, TMSA identifies the main objective as which
of the following?
a) To provide direction and clearly define responsibilities and accountabilities at all levels within the
organization.
b) To ensure that the fleet is supported by competent shore-based staff who are committed to a high standard of
fleet management.
c) To establish maintenance standards that all ships in the fleet are capable of operating safely without the risk
of an incident or detention.
d) Establish and implement appropriate measurement and feedback processes to focus on and drive continuous
improvement.

19. What does TMSA say about the concepts of safety and environmental excellence?
a) That they should be understood at all levels and actively promoted through leadership and the
disciplined use of management systems.
b) That they depend on all departments carrying out the instructions of senior management.
c) That they are best promoted by crew members who have been suitably motivated, trained, qualified and
assessed as competent to carry out their roles.
d) That they require the systematic identification of hazards and the elimination or reduction of risks to the lowest
practicable level.

20. In the main objective of the “Reliability and maintenance standards” element, what level does TMSA say
that all ships must be capable of operating at?
a) Without the risk of an incident or detention.
b) With minimal incidence of marine and atmospheric pollution.
c) Where the number of outstanding maintenance is minimized through efficient and speedy resolution.
d) Where they demonstrate sufficient effort to avoid accidents and incidents to satisfy an auditor.

21. TMSA rightly points out that the master is ultimately responsible for the safety of navigation, but what
role does it say that shore-based management must play?
a) They must set company standards and ensure that they are maintained.
b) They should not interfere at all in the safety of navigation; that is solely for the master to attend to.
c) They are to provide a set of publications and charts for every vessel.
d) They must contribute to the establishment and maintenance of international standards through participation in
the appropriate IMO and other industry sub-committees.

22. According to TMSA, what kinds of change can increase the risk of an incident? (Select all applicable
answers).
a) To equipment.
b) In personnel.
c) In operating conditions.
d) In procedures.
e) By the introduction of third-party contractors.
 f) A new vessel.

23. Effective investigation reporting and follow-up are intended to bring about which of the following? (Select
all applicable answers).
a) That companies learn from significant near misses and incidents.
b) That the recurrence of an incident or near miss is prevented.
c) The documentation of incidents is carried out in such a way as to satisfy an auditor.
d) A system is created whereby independent companies control statistics on incidents and near misses.

24. A fundamental principle of safety management is that all incidents and accidents are considered which of
the following?
a) Preventable.
b) Controllable.
c) Inconvenient.
d) Hazardous.
e) Unavoidable.

25. Which of the following is the TMSA definition of a near miss?

a) An event, or sequence of events, that did not result in an injury or incident but which, under slightly
different circumstances, could have done so.
b) A factor which, if changed or removed, will eliminate a problem.
c) An event, or sequence of events, that did not require a report but which, under slightly different
circumstances, would have done so.
d) An accident or incident which did not result in marine or atmospheric pollution.

26. Which of the following is the TMSA definition of a root cause?

a) A factor identified as the fundamental reason for a problem which, if changed or removed, will
eliminate the problem.
b) An event, or sequence of events, that did not result in an injury or incident but which, under slightly different
circumstances, could have done so
c) A factor identified as a contributory reason behind a problem which, if changed or removed, would most likely
eliminate the problem.
d) A reason identified as being behind an accident or incident which results in marine or atmospheric pollution.

27. Effective safety management requires which of the following to be in place? (Select all applicable
answers).
a) The systematic identification of hazards.
b) Measures to eliminate or reduce risks to the lowest practicable level.
c) An approved self-assessment program.
d) Procedures that describe the validity of all relevant certificates.
e) Arrangements to ensure the nominal cross-checking of line-settings, valves, vents and overboards at the
commencement and completion of ballast operations.

28. Which of the following is the definition of a “no blame culture”?

a) A management structure of encouragement to promote open communication throughout the
company.
b) A management requirement to report all incidents and accidents, irrespective of root cause and culpability.
c) A management policy of financial reward to promote confidential reporting throughout the company.
d) A management structure of protection to ensure that no blame can be assigned to corporate policy.

29. Formal shore-based management risk assessment should be aimed at which of the following? (Select all
applicable answers).
a) The identification of potential hazards and exposures.
b) The management of operational risk.
c) The compilation of statistics and reports.
d) The reporting of accidents and incidents.
e) The identification of approved systems and procedures to facilitate effective preventative maintenance on
board.
30. Which two of the following are sub-element aims of environmental management within TMSA?
a) That the company implements a plan for the systematic identification and assessment of all sources
of marine and atmospheric pollution.
b) That comprehensive environmental initiatives and actions are being implemented on board the ships.
c) That comprehensive procedures are prepared and maintained for incident management.
d) That the company has a comprehensive and proactive approach to the identification of potential hazards and
the management of shipboard risks.

31. What is the main objective of Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning within TMSA?
a) The establishment of an emergency preparedness system and its regular testing, to ensure an
ongoing ability to react effectively to an incident.
b) The company prepares comprehensive procedures for incident management.
c) The ship operator has a comprehensive and proactive approach to the identification of potential hazards and
the shore-based management of operational risks.
d) The establishment of a rapid-reaction team trained to manage an incident on location worldwide.

32. What does TMSA suggest should take place at an annual management review?
a) Senior management reviews the quality-management system to verify its adequacy and improve its
effectiveness.
b) The auditors verify compliance with specified safety procedures.
c) Senior management draws up new personnel and operational assessment schedules that ensure the safety
of the ships, the crews, the cargoes and the environment.
d) Senior management reviews all reported accidents and incidents that have occurred during the previous year
and assigns responsibility.

33. How could records of KPI scoring and supporting documentation be used in an audit or other review
meeting?
a) They could be seen as tangible evidence of performance.
b) Having such records means that a ship operator can avoid particular sections of an audit process.
c) Such information cannot be used in an audit or other review meeting.
d) Having such records will automatically guarantee that the operator will be seen as attaining a higher than
average level of attainment in all key areas of management.