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TUG MALTA LTD.,
a leading provider of harbor towage and marine services in the bustling Port of Valletta.
A series of minor incidents and near misses revealed that their paper-based Job Safety Analysis (JSA) process was failing. Risk assessments were generic, inconsistent between tugs, and did not capture the invaluable experience of their senior Tug Masters.
TUG MALTA implemented PRIME Marine's Risk Assessment module to create a central, digital library of standardized, best-practice risk assessments for all their core operations.
80% Reduction
in reported near misses related to tow line and fendering operations.
Standardized a library of 50+ core towage procedures,
capturing the knowledge of their most experienced Masters.
Enhanced client and pilot confidence
by providing professional, job-specific risk assessments prior to maneuvers.
Transformed their safety culture
from reactive paperwork to proactive, documented planning.
TUG MALTA has always prided itself on the skill of its crews. But a string of minor, non-critical incidents within a six-month period served as a wake-up call for their management.
"We had two separate incidents that, thankfully, resulted in no injuries or major damage, but were deeply concerning," says Captain Marco Vella, Operations Manager at TUG MALTA. "In one, a tow line parted during a routine ship assist in heavy weather. In another, one of our tugs made light contact with a client's hull during a push-up maneuver. The common theme in our internal investigation was a failure in the risk assessment process."
The investigations revealed that the paper-based JSAs were being treated as a formality:
“The incidents were our 'wake-up call.' They proved that our system was letting our skilled people down. We were relying on their experience to overcome the weaknesses in our process, and that is not a sustainable or safe way to operate.”
- Captain Marco Vella,
Operations Manager,
TUG MALTA LTD.
TUG MALTA's leadership knew they needed to move beyond paper and create a single, standardized system. They chose PRIME Marine's Risk Assessment module for its flexibility and its ability to create a master library of procedures.
The implementation was a collaborative effort:
“The process was transformative,” says Capt. Vella.
“We took the knowledge that was in the heads of our best people and turned it into a standardized, digital tool that the entire fleet could use. The risk assessment became the core of our job planning, not an afterthought. ”
By standardizing their risk assessment process, TUG MALTA created a safer and more professional operation.
1. A Measurable Reduction in Incidents
By ensuring that every job was planned using a detailed, best-practice template that forced crews to consider specific hazards, they saw a dramatic 80% reduction in near missesrelated to their core towage operations within the first year.
2. Consistency and Professionalism
The standardized library ensured that every tug and every crew was operating to the same high standard. This consistency became a powerful commercial tool. "We can now email a professional, detailed risk assessment to a vessel's Master or Pilot before we even leave the dock," Capt. Vella notes. "This has had a huge positive impact on our reputation and the confidence our clients have in us."
3. A Living System of Improvement
The system became a tool for continuous learning. After a particularly challenging job, a Master could add their notes and suggest a new control measure. This suggestion would be reviewed by Capt. Vella and, if approved, added to the master template for the benefit of the entire fleet.
“PRIME Marine allowed us to stop reacting to incidents and start proactively managing our risks. Our risk assessments are no longer just paperwork; they are our operational playbook, written by our best people. It has fundamentally changed the way we approach safety.”
- Captain Marco Vella,
Operations Manager,
TUG MALTA LTD.
