INTERCARGO convened a high-level industry meeting in Athens on Tuesday, bringing together shipowners, charterers, insurers and service providers to address the growing operational and safety challenges of ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the dry bulk segment.
The meeting underscored a significant shift in industry practice, with STS transfers in dry bulk evolving from occasional operations into a routine necessity. This transition is being driven by the deployment of larger vessels and constraints in port infrastructure, increasingly forcing cargo transfers to take place offshore.
However, participants highlighted that this rapid evolution has occurred without a unified framework to ensure safe and efficient execution. Unlike the tanker sector—where STS operations have followed well-established protocols for over two decades—the dry bulk industry continues to rely on fragmented practices shaped by cargo types, regional conditions and trade-specific requirements.
The session opened with remarks by INTERCARGO Chairman John Xylas, followed by a technical presentation from Dimitris Monioudis. Industry stakeholders including NYK Group, DYNAMARINe, Britannia P&I Club, James Fisher, Charterwell Maritime, Oldendorff Carriers and Maran Dry Management shared operational insights and risk perspectives.
Discussions highlighted the inherent complexity of STS transfers in dry bulk, involving multiple stakeholders, varying resource availability across regions, and dynamic operational risks influenced by weather, draft limitations and visibility. Participants noted that procedures often differ between operations, adding to the challenge of maintaining consistency and safety standards.
A key focus of the meeting was INTERCARGO’s newly developed “Ship-to-Ship Transfer Guidelines for Bulk Carriers,” created in collaboration with industry members. The guidelines are intended to serve as a foundation for a more harmonised and structured approach to STS operations.
Commenting on the outcomes, Xylas said the discussions reinforced that STS transfers are no longer a niche activity in dry bulk shipping. “As activity continues to grow, alignment across stakeholders will be critical in ensuring these operations are carried out safely and consistently,” he noted, urging wider industry engagement.
Adding to this, Panagiotis Nikiteas emphasised that the new guidelines would play a crucial role in enhancing operational consistency and reducing disruption risks.
By bringing together key players across the maritime value chain, INTERCARGO aims to foster a more coordinated approach to STS transfers, with broader industry participation expected as efforts intensify towards standardisation and improved safety practices in the dry bulk sector.
