Mooring Operations

PREPARATIONS

Boatmen and Linesmen should normally be ready for work with mooring
boats fully manned and equipment checked 15 minutes before the time ordered.
Equipment requiring testing includes the following: heaving lines and
messenger ropes of sufficient strength for the job in hand; winches on the jetty
for heaving in the messenger; shore wires or lines provided; quick release
hooks; VHF radios; and mooring boats and associated equipment.
The person supervising the Linesmen/Boatmen should confirm with the
Berth Operator the required mooring plan, and any specific positioning
requirements. He should make VHF contact with the vessel in good time to
check communications. He should also ascertain and agree the berthing
arrangements and determine whether any non-standard arrangements are
required by the Pilot or Master. In complex situations, it may be necessary for
the supervisor to board the vessel in order to discuss arrangements with the
Master or Pilot. The supervisor should also establish whether fibre or wire
moorings are to be used in order to ensure that there are sufficient persons
available in the mooring boats and/or on the berth.

Mooring Deck That area of a ship from which the moorings are run
ashore and secured. The vessel would normally have a forward mooring deck
and an aft mooring deck. The forward deck usually accommodates the anchor
arrangement.
Mooring Anchor A heavy anchor employed as a permanent mooring for
buoys or, in some cases, offshore installations.
Mooring Boat A small boat employed to carry ships moorings to the
shore or to mooring buoys. It is usually manned by a minimum of two men, one
of which may have to jump the buoy when securing to buoys.
Mooring Buoy A large buoy to which ships can moor using mooring lines
or by means of the anchor cable once the anchor has been hung off.

Mooring Line A natural fibre or manmade fibre rope used to tie up and
secure the vessel to quaysides or buoys. A generic term which can also include
mooring wires.
Mooring Shackle A heavy duty bow shackle, listed under the anchors
and cables accessories. It is used when the vessel needs to moor up to buoys.
Mooring Swivel An additional fitting placed into the anchor cable when
mooring to buoys or to two anchors for a lengthy period of time. The swivel
ensures that the cable does not become fouled and twisted as the vessel turns
on the mooring
MOORING EQUIPMENT
A ships mooring equipment includes mechanisms,
WINCH, is a mechanical device that is used to pull
in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust
the "tension" of a ropeor wire rope (also called "cable"
or "wire cable").
CAPSTAN, A vertically mounted warping drum with

its motor secured below decks. The sides of the
drum are fitted with whelps to provide improved
holding for mooring rope turns
The winches and capstans are used to take in

and pay out mooring lines, which are ropes or steel
cables.
BITT, A short metal or wood post on the deck of a ship used to secure mooring
or other lines; usually in a pair. To secure a line about a ship's bitt.
CLEAT, is a device for securing a rope
STOPPER,
A length
of
rope
or
chain
employed to temporarily take the weight of a

rope or wire, while it is transferred from a
winch to secure cleats or bollards.
The bitts and cleats, around which the mooring lines are made fast;
stoppers, which temporarily hold the mooring lines; mooring chocks, rollers, and
mooring pipes, which are used to change the direction of the mooring lines;
manually operated or mechanized reels, on which the mooring lines are stowed;
and line throwers, which throw the mooring lines from the ship.
The dimensions of individual pieces of mooring equipment and the rate at
which mooring lines are taken in are regulated by classification societies. They
depend on a ships area of operation and on the dimensions of the ship and of
the ships superstructures, deckhouses, and other deck structures.
PERSONAL SAFETY
SHOULD ALWAYS
Wear approved and in-date self-inflating lifejackets and other appropriate
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (e.g. hard hat, safety footwear, etc)
throughout the operation.
Ensure that the working area is safe and free from trip or sliphazards,
particularly around bollards.
Report any trip, slip or other hazards immediately to the Berth Operator.
Ensure that all ladders are safe, in good condition and free from
obstruction.
Check the condition of mooring bollards, but stand well clear whilst
waiting.
Remain alert to what the vessel crew and fellow Linesmen are doing
Always hold a line by the side of the eye or the standing part.
Throw the eye of a rope over a bollard or hook.
Refuse a stranded or damaged wire whilst notifying the mooring
Supervisor and vessel.
SHOLUD NEVER
Stand in the bight or eye of a mooring line at any time.

Walk over a slack mooring line between a bollard and a ship.
Stand astride, stand on or walk over taut mooring lines.
Stand between a mooring line and the quay edge.
Let a wire rope slip through the hands or slide a hand along a wire.
Wear rings or other hand jewellery.
Sit on the bollard or the quay edge.
Stand behind a bollard when the ship is heaving alongside.
Stand in a "DANGER ZONE", i.e. in the area into which a line under
tension could recoil.
SIGNALS AND WARNINGS

There are a number of signals which are almost universal relating to ship
mooring, i.e.:
a) An outstretched arm with the hand flat being waved downwards means
"slack off"
b) A sharp upward movement of the hand and arm with the hand cupped
towards the signaller means "let go" or "cast off"
c) Arms crossed facing upwards in front of the body means "make fast" or
"It is made fast "
d) A circular movement of the hand above the head means "heave away"
e) Both hands raised above the shoulders, palms facing outward means
"stop"
f) A raised hand with the fist being clenched and unclenched means
heave or hoist slowly

Mooring Operations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mooring Operations

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Mooring Operations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PREPARATIONS

CAPSTAN, A vertically mounted warping drum with

The winches and capstans are used to take in

CLEAT, is a device for securing a rope

employed to temporarily take the weight of a

Stand in the bight or eye of a mooring line at any time.

SIGNALS AND WARNINGS

You might also like