Ship emergency response service (SERS)

Dependable advice when it matters most

Our ship emergency response service provides practical support worldwide to help you make the right decisions, reducing risks to the environment, passengers, crew and cargo.

An unexpected incident, such as a grounding, a collision or an explosion, can result in complex technical challenges, all requiring a fast and effective response.

Our ship emergency response service provides practical support worldwide to help you make the right decisions, reducing risks to the environment, passengers, crew and cargo.

Our dedicated teams of naval architects and specialists are experienced in ship casualties and ready to respond quickly and effectively to incidents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Unrivalled experience

With experience of more than 250 live incidents and over 1,000 exercises, we have earned a worldwide reputation as the leading provider of emergency response. When the unexpected happens, our ship emergency response service (SERS) can help you decide upon the best course of action, ensuring that a potentially serious situation is resolved as positively as possible.

Supporting you in an incident

It is estimated that the operator of a fleet of 10 ships could encounter a serious casualty every 10 years. Enrolment with SERS ensures that, in such an eventuality, vital support is only a phone call away. Our teams of experienced naval architects and specialists can respond rapidly.

From the early critical stages through to repair, we provide support by evaluating the technical aspects of the casualty and identifying concerns and possible courses of action.

Relevant information provided includes:

• residual longitudinal strength

• oil outflow and flooding

• intact and damaged stability, including assessments at intermediate stages

• floatability

• grounding forces, including the effects of tide.

Improving preparedness

Preparation is the key to our ability to act quickly. We develop detailed, quality assured models of all ships enrolled in the service, which can be recalled rapidly for use during exercises and real emergency situations, and our intuitive software allows rapid analysis and reporting of casualty conditions.

Exercises are essential preparation for a possible casualty, enabling you to identify opportunities to improve your emergency response capability. Working with you, our emergency exercises rehearse the critical stages of a casualty, testing communications, and familiarising staff with capabilities and requirements. Exercises are supported through training and more general advice and exchange of experience through our user club conferences, seminars and newsletters.

Dependable service

Over 450 clients now subscribe to SERS worldwide, many of them exclusively. The service extends to all ships, independent of flag or classification. Our goal is to provide you with the highest standards of emergency preparedness and response available. Two teams are always on call, and comprehensive contingency facilities are in place, including a backup response centre. All data is regularly archived offsite and can be rapidly recovered if necessary.

Supported by specialists from the Lloyd’s Register Group, the service is confidential and completely independent. Enrolling with SERS helps ensure that you meet the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) best-practice guidelines, which suggest contracting with a classification society for the provision of emergency response guidance. All the information we provide is accepted as independent verification by coast guards, class, port states and other parties.

Summary of benefits

• Proactively helps you manage your risk through emergency preparedness.

• Increased confidence when making decisions to reduce the impact of a casualty on your operations and on the environment.

• Demonstrates your commitment to safety and provides confidence in contingency planning.

• Meets MARPOL requirements for access to shore-based damage stability and residual strength programs.

• Expert advice available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Recognised by national and local maritime authorities.