Ship Mooring Equipment

 

 SHIP MOORING EQUIPMENT

Before entering port, all preparations of the necessary mooring equipment shall be carried out, and if there is an inadequacy or non-conformity in equipment affecting safety during mooring work, it shall be reported to the terminal and the port authority. 

The anchor shall be kept in the standby condition if requested, as long as casting the anchor is not prohibited. The required number of personnel shall be stationed for mooring work.

Mixed Moorings

Vessels equipped with both wires and synthetic lines shall avoid mixing mooring to the same bollard or dolphin.

Self Stowing Mooring Winches

Because their weight and size make manual handling difficult, mooring wires used by tankers are normally stores on self stowing mooring winches which may be either single drum or split drum.

A number of features of these winches need to be clearly understood by ship’s personnel in order to avoid vessels breaking adrift from berths as the result of slipping winch brakes.

The holding power of the brake depends on several factors, the first being it’s designed holding capacity. This may either have been specified by the shipowner or be the standard design of the winch manufacturer. 

Some winches have brake which is designed to slip or render under loads which are less than 60% of the breaking load of the mooring line (MBL) handled. Every ship’s officer should be aware of the designed brake holding capacity of the self - stowing mooring winches installed on his vessel.

In addition, deterioration of the brake holding capacity will be caused by wear down of the brake linings or blocks, and it should therefore be tested at regular intervals (not exceeding twelve months). 

A record, both of regular maintenance and inspections and tests, should be kept on the vessel. If the deterioration is significant, particularly if the initial designed holding capacity was low in relation to the breaking load of the mooring, the linings or blocks must be renewed. 

Some of the never self-stowing mooring winches are fitted with disc brakes which are less affected by wear.

Kits are available for testing winch brake holding capacity that can be placed on board for use by the crew. There are also a number of operational procedures which can seriously reduce the holding capacity of winch brakes if they are not correctly carried out. 

Mooring System At Berth

Unberthing of the ship, including the handling of lines from the tug, is hazardous work. It is important that all concerned persons bear this in mind and take adequate precautions to prevent accidents.

Correct Mooring 

If the tanker moves away from its moored position because of incorrect mooring, it may cause major damage to berthing equipment. The correct mooring of the tanker is the responsibility of the Master; however, this is also the responsibility of the terminal. Both terminal supervisor and Master shall confirm that the ship is safely moored before cargo hose and metallic arms are connected.