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Marine Terminal Loading Master Training Course

Prepares loading masters and jetty teams to plan, control and document safe ship-shore cargo transfers, custody measurement and berth emergency response.

MID · Midstream Operations, Pipelines, Storage & LNGAll Levels#2959ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
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Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Course Overview

The Marine Terminal Loading Master Training Course equips loading masters, jetty supervisors, terminal operators, and marine coordinators with the knowledge and practical judgment needed to plan, control, and document safe cargo transfers between ships and shore. The loading master stands at the point where terminal procedures, ship operations, and commercial obligations meet, and decisions taken at the berth determine whether a crude oil, refined product, gas, or chemical transfer finishes safely, on time, and with quantities that both parties accept. Weak communication, poorly agreed rates, or a missed line-up step can quickly lead to tank overflow, overpressure, static ignition, toxic exposure, or costly cargo disputes. The course follows a ship call from pre-arrival to departure, informed by the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT) and recognized terminal practice. Participants examine the loading master's role and authority, terminal and ship organization, communication protocols, pre-arrival information exchange, and the Ship/Shore Safety Checklist, followed by mooring and berthing safety at concept level. The program then addresses cargo transfer planning, including cargo plans, agreed loading and discharge rates, stability and hull stress awareness, line-up and valve management, and topping-off control. Participants also cover custody transfer and quantity measurement concepts such as ullage, temperature, and sampling, cargo documentation, losses, and dispute handling, together with tank cleaning, gas freeing, and inerting awareness, the hazards of petroleum, gas, and chemical cargoes, emergency shutdown, spill prevention, and incident response at the jetty. The course is delivered through operational scenarios, checklist and document exercises, transfer planning workshops, and case studies of terminal incidents and cargo disputes. Participants leave with a pre-arrival information template, a ship/shore safety checklist guide, a cargo transfer plan template, a quantity reconciliation worksheet, and a jetty emergency response checklist.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze the loading master's role, responsibilities, and authority at marine terminals, including the authority to stop operations, on Day 1.
  • Describe terminal and ship organization, lines of responsibility, and communication methods for cargo operations.
  • Manage pre-arrival information exchange and agree operational, safety, and cargo requirements before berthing.
  • Apply the Ship/Shore Safety Checklist through joint inspection, physical verification, and repetitive checks.
  • Explain mooring and berthing safety principles, environmental limits, and criteria for suspending operations.
  • Prepare and agree cargo transfer plans, including grades, sequence, loading and discharge rates, and topping-off.
  • Recognize stability, trim, and hull stress considerations that affect cargo sequencing and transfer rates.
  • Control line-up, valve management, and pressure surge prevention during start-up, transfer, and completion.
  • Apply custody transfer and quantity measurement concepts, including ullage, temperature, sampling, and quantity calculations.
  • Manage cargo documentation, quantity reconciliation, losses, and disputes, including letters of protest.
  • Assess static, flammable vapor, and toxic hazards of petroleum, gas, and chemical cargoes and apply tank cleaning, gas freeing, and inerting awareness.
  • Lead emergency shutdown, spill prevention, jetty incident response, and reporting by the end of Day 5.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for loading masters, assistant loading masters, jetty and berth supervisors, terminal operators, marine superintendents, and terminal shift leaders responsible for ship-shore cargo transfers. It is also relevant for cargo inspectors and surveyors, terminal planners and schedulers, HSE professionals, mooring and port operations personnel, and ships' officers moving into terminal roles. It is particularly valuable for professionals in crude oil and product export terminals, refineries and petrochemical plants with marine jetties, LPG and chemical terminals, national oil companies, port authorities, and terminal operation contractors.

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
  • Exercise the loading master's authority to stop unsafe operations.
  • Coordinate effectively with ship and terminal personnel.
  • Confirm ship and terminal readiness before cargo starts.
  • Complete the Ship/Shore Safety Checklist with genuine verification.
  • Recognize unsafe mooring and weather conditions.
  • Prepare and agree cargo transfer plans and safe transfer rates.
  • Control line-ups and valve operations to prevent overflow and pressure surges.
  • Apply ullage, sampling, and quantity calculation concepts to custody transfer.
  • Reconcile ship and shore figures and handle losses and disputes.
  • Control static, vapor, and toxic cargo hazards.
  • Initiate emergency shutdown and respond to spills and jetty incidents.
  • Produce complete cargo documentation and incident reports.

Course Outline

Course Outline:

Day 1

The Loading Master's Role and Terminal Organization

  • Role, responsibilities, and authority of the loading master, including stopping operations
  • Terminal and ship organization, the ship's responsible officer, and lines of accountability
  • Communication protocols, radio procedures, and emergency signals at the berth
  • ISGOTT, terminal regulations, and the terminal information booklet
  • Practical application: participants map responsibilities and communication lines for a ship call
Day 2

Pre-Arrival Exchange, Safety Checklist, and Mooring Safety

  • Pre-arrival information exchange between ship, terminal, and agent
  • The Ship/Shore Safety Checklist: joint inspection, verification, and repetitive checks
  • Mooring and berthing safety, mooring line monitoring, and snap-back zones
  • Wind, current, and tide limits and criteria for stopping cargo and leaving the berth
  • Practical application: participants run a simulated ship/shore safety meeting and resolve non-conformities
Day 3

Cargo Transfer Planning and Operations Control

  • Cargo plans, grade segregation, sequence, and agreed loading and discharge rates
  • Stability, trim, and hull stress awareness
  • Line-up checks, valve management, and pressure surge prevention
  • Start-up, rate changes, topping-off, line clearing, and completion procedures
  • Practical application: participants prepare and agree a cargo transfer plan for a multi-grade loading
Day 4

Custody Transfer, Measurement, and Cargo Hazards

  • Custody transfer principles, shore and ship measurement, ullage, temperature, and free water
  • Sampling, quality documentation, quantity calculations, and the vessel experience factor
  • Losses, discrepancies, letters of protest, and dispute handling
  • Static, vapor, and toxicity hazards and tank cleaning, gas freeing, and inerting awareness
  • Practical application: participants reconcile ship and shore figures for a loading and draft a letter of protest
Day 5

Emergency Response, Spill Prevention, and Reporting

  • Emergency shutdown, ship-shore communication links, and emergency stop procedures
  • Spill prevention, containment, and first response at the berth
  • Fire, gas release, and personnel emergencies and coordination with port services
  • Cargo documentation, operational records, incident reporting, and lessons learned
  • Final workshop: participants manage a simulated jetty emergency and present the incident report

Upcoming Dates

Selected date

London · 30 Aug – 3 Sept 2027 · Classroom

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CityDatesPrice per ParticipantEarly Bird
Kuala LumpurScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€4,700—
LisbonScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€6,000—
LondonScheduled
9 – 13 Nov 2026€5,800—
MadinahScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€4,800—
MadridScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€6,000—
MakkahScheduled
23 – 27 Nov 2026€4,800€4,320until 2 Nov
ManamaScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,300€4,770until 9 Nov
MarbellaScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€6,000€5,400until 9 Nov
MuscatScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€6,300€5,670until 16 Nov
OnlineScheduled
13 – 17 Dec 2026€2,700€2,430until 23 Nov
AbujaScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€7,700€6,930until 30 Nov
ParisScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€6,700€6,030until 30 Nov
AccraScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€7,700€6,930until 7 Dec
AmmanScheduled
3 – 7 Jan 2027€4,000€3,600until 14 Dec
AmsterdamScheduled
4 – 8 Jan 2027€6,000€5,400until 14 Dec
BakuScheduled
11 – 15 Jan 2027€5,300€4,770until 21 Dec
BangkokScheduled
18 – 22 Jan 2027€6,700€6,030until 28 Dec
BarcelonaScheduled
18 – 22 Jan 2027€6,000€5,400until 28 Dec
BeirutScheduled
24 – 28 Jan 2027€4,500€4,050until 4 Jan
CairoScheduled
31 Jan – 4 Feb 2027€3,800€3,420until 11 Jan
Cape TownScheduled
1 – 5 Feb 2027€7,700€6,930until 11 Jan
CasablancaScheduled
8 – 12 Feb 2027€4,700€4,230until 18 Jan
DammamScheduled
14 – 18 Feb 2027€4,800€4,320until 25 Jan
DohaScheduled
21 – 25 Feb 2027€4,700€4,230until 1 Feb
DubaiScheduled
21 – 25 Feb 2027€4,700€4,230until 1 Feb
ErbilScheduled
28 Feb – 4 Mar 2027€4,000€3,600until 8 Feb
FrankfurtScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€6,200€5,580until 15 Feb
IstanbulScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€5,300€4,770until 15 Feb
JeddahScheduled
14 – 18 Mar 2027€4,800€4,320until 22 Feb
KigaliScheduled
22 – 26 Mar 2027€7,700€6,930until 1 Mar
LondonScheduled
30 Aug – 3 Sept 2027€5,800€5,220until 9 Aug

Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Doha · Amsterdam

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