New STS Guide 2025: What Tanker Staff Must Know

Hi Legends!
Welcome again to my blog — this time, we’ll discuss one of the hottest current topics in the tanker world: the long-awaited 2025 edition of the Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer Guide.

After more than a decade, the CDI / ICS / OCIMF / SIGTTO consortium has finally released the Second Edition of the STS Transfer Guide (2025) — marking the most significant industry update in over 50 years of STS operations.

Whether you’re a Master, Chief Officer, Operator, or STS Superintendent, this is one update you cannot afford to ignore.

For everyone from the bridge to the office, this new guide sets the benchmark for compliance and operational assurance. The IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Domínguez, himself endorsed the guide, highlighting its vital role in supporting MARPOL implementation and reinforcing the shared responsibility for safety. In practical terms, this means the guide provides the clear standard that will be used in vetting inspections and Port State Control audits, making adherence absolutely essential.

What’s New in the 2025 Edition?

This new edition feels like the writers actually listened to people who work on ships. Let’s talk about what’s new and what it really means for us at sea.

• First, the guide has added a full chapter on human factors. That’s a fancy way of saying, “people make mistakes, and we need to understand why.” It talks about fatigue, communication, decision-making, and even leadership on board. Because at the end of the day, the STS hose doesn’t connect itself — it’s always people running the show.
• Next, the guide welcomes new technology onboard. It talks about digital fender sensors, electronic STS plans, and online checklists. Sounds exciting, right? But the idea is simple — record things properly, reduce paper mess, and make it easier to prove that you did everything right when an inspector or vetting officer comes calling.
• Then comes the update on personnel transfer. Those who have seen a crane transfer during a rough swell know it can be more thrilling than a roller coaster. The new guide now insists on a risk-based approach, meaning no transfer should happen without proper planning and control. Whether it’s a basket or a ladder, the same level of seriousness applies.
• The section on equipment and mooring has also grown up. The recommendations now follow MEG4 standards — updated brake tests, hose pressure checks, and proper fender sizing. And here’s something interesting: the guide even suggests moving from those old 2D mooring sketches to proper 3D mooring plans. So, if your old mooring plan still says “lines as per ship’s convenience,” time to rewrite that part.
• A big practical change is that all cargo types — oil, chemical, LPG, LNG — are now covered in one integrated section. Before, you had to jump between annexes like solving a puzzle. Now it’s all in one place, saving time and confusion, especially for mixed-fleet companies.
• The safety checklists have also gone through a serious makeover. They now match ISGOTT version 6 and are broken into six clear steps, from pre-arrival to post-STS review. No more confusion about when to sign which checklist — everything is in sequence, like a well-planned voyage passage.
• And yes, the terminology has changed. The terms “Mother Ship” and “Daughter Ship” are now history. The new guide calls them Constant Heading Ship (CHS) and Manoeuvring Ship (MS). It may take us a few operations to get used to saying “CHS ready to receive,” but it does make radio calls sound a bit more professional.
• So overall, the 2025 STS Guide is not just another update to print and file away. It’s a smarter, more realistic version — one that finally mixes human sense with technical sense. Whether you’re on deck during a fender connection or on the bridge planning the approach, these new rules make life a little safer, a little clearer, and maybe even a little easier.

Conclusion

So, that’s the wave of change the 2025 STS Guide brings— From smarter fenders to sharper checklists, from human factors to 3D mooring plans — it’s all about making our operations safer, smoother, and a little bit wiser.

For those of us who’ve spent half our lives with a mooring rope in one hand and a walkie in the other, this guide is like an old chart — redrawn for modern waters. Read it, share it with your crew, and let it shape your next STS as the safest one yet.

Until next time, legends — stay safe, stay humble, and keep your compass true.
Wishing you fair winds and calm seas ahead.

Thanks for reading and for your continued interest in Marine Legends — where every seafaring story finds its anchor.