Mooring and unmooring
This ARBO chapter is part of the
Health and Safety Index for the
shipping industry.
It is intended to help employers to
comply with the requirements of
health and safety legislation. It may be
used as a checklist by employees.
It contains the necessary measures to
be taken in order to safely carry out
certain work-related activities.
This chapter contains the measures that must be taken to ensure the safe
mooring and unmooring and to minimise potential hazards.
PPE to be used
Compliance with these regulations, or
alternative regulations offering an
equivalent level of protection, is
essential.
This chapter contains health and
safety regulations to ensure safe
mooring and unmooring procedures.
Employees checklist
Always use an adequate
number of crew when
mooring/unmooring
Make each other aware of
unsafe situations
Familiarise yourself with the
equipment used in order to be
able to spot any wear and tear
at an early stage
Provide supervision at stem
and stern whilst
mooring/unmooring
Has the mooring plan been
discussed?
Use well-working
communication equipment
Do not carry out more than
one aspect of the job at any
one time (like manning winch
and handling ropes)
Various factors in mooring/unmooring
vessels:
In order to safely moor/unmoor seagoing ships, a number of factors will
have to be taken into consideration. In addition, equipment, experience
and on-board organisation are vital in ensuring smooth
mooring/unmooring:
Availability of sufficient (experienced) crew
Mutual supervision
Preparation
Communication
Sound division of labour and appropriate supervision
Maintenance of all equipment
Be vigilant
In many instances accidents do not happen because of the complicated
nature of a manoeuvre, but rather because of lack of care and attention
whilst carrying out a (simple) job:
You have a legal obligation to point out unsafe routines and/or
incorrect usage of protective equipment to the people you work
with.
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Organisation and safety
Communication equipment has been tested and agreement has been
reached on the division of labour; the crew has been briefed on the
mooring plan.
All supervising officers are familiar with the nature of the equipment
used. Experience and vigilance are vital in the prevention of accidents
Supervising officers shall have a working knowledge of:
The characteristics of the ropes, springs and warps used
The ropes breaking strength
The criteria for condemning ropes, springs and warps
Operating winches
Communication
Holding power brake band
Winches self tensioning properties
Winches heavingpower
The mooring plan
The location of capstans and hawsoles and the correct handling
of mooring ropes along them
The work to be carried out
The snap-back zones (see schedule of danger zones)
Supervision over and operation of winches and capstans should be in
the hands of experienced crew.
Officers in charge should have an overall picture of the situation at all
times
Preparation of the work space is vital to safety at work.
Work should only be carried out by authorised persons.
Equipment
All tools and equipment used should be inspected and maintained
regularly.
All of the mooring gears movable parts should be current.
The surfaces of all hawsoles, fairleads, cable guides, bollards and
warping ends should be kept clean and in good working order
Ropes and warps should be in good condition and should have been
inspected
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By being familiar with the danger zones on deck,
crew members will become aware of
the potential hazards present.
Marked zones: snap-back zones.
Care, control and maintenance are of prime importance, however,
always be aware that ropes may snap at any time.
Lay-out and equipment and therefore the mooring plan too are
different on every ship. For that reason make sure to study a ships layout on boarding.
The operational direction will have been clearly marked, both on the
drum and the handle
Unclear workspaces increase the risk of accidents.
Mooring and unmooring
An adequate number of experienced crew will be available
Whilst moored, regular checks should be carried out to ensure that the
vessel is still alongside safely (mooring rounds)
Crew will take into account the effects of:
The wind
The current
Suction from passing ships
Waves and swell
The tide
The ships movements as a result of cargo operations
Always maintain a safe distance from warping ends/drums to prevent
becoming trapped. (keep hands and fingers free)
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Sound communication between ship and shore (and tug if and when
applicable) is of the essence
Wear stout protective gloves to ensure a strong grip as rope burns and
steel cables have burrs
Be vigilant of observers whilst mooring and unmooring: ropes may snap
at any time
Do not ever lay ropes and warps around sharp corners. When using a
winch, the angle to the hawsole should be as large as possible.
Do not ever stand close to taut ropes or warps and stay clear of the
snap-back zone.
As much as possible, stand behind the warping end when handling
ropes; avoid the side of the taut rope.
Do not ever stand inside a bend or loop of any rope or warp.
Stay clear of moving parts.
Beware of heaving lines being thrown aboard from tugs or shore
Stopping and belaying ropes
For preference, do not just belay a rope by using figures-of-eight:
instead first hitch it twice around the lower side of the bollard (see
picture)
Using a winch to handle ropes and warps should never be done by one
single person.
Level out stress on ropes as much as possible
Be aware of the different elasticity of the various materials
Do not leave stoppers attached to rope after use (see picture)
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Some options for stopping ropes
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Avoid too many turns on the drum (picture)
Steel cables must not be belayed on top of ropes.
When using split drum never allow a double layer on the working part
to avoid fouling and/or trapping/damaging ropes.
Steel cables
Steel cables must be stopped with chain stoppers which should run in
the opposite direction to that of the cable in question.
Steel cables must not kink whilst being ran out or heaved up
Only special shackles should be used to connect steel cables to ropes
(e.g. Tonsberg)
Beware of burrs: use stout leather gloves.
Physical strain
When using mooring gear, the availability of sufficient manpower to
reduce physical strain is vital
Avoid manual pulling on ropes as much as possible to avoid straining
and possibly injuring the back.
Storage
After use, ropes should be stored clear of the deck (picture)
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Further information / documentation used
Arbeidsomstandighedenbesluit en beleidsregels
(Netherlands Labour Conditions Decree and Policy Rules)
Dat is juist / Safety first
IMCASF P&I publications Jan 2009 Mooring incidents
Effective Mooring (OCIMF)
Mooring Equipment guidelines Sec edition 1997 OCIMF
MCA Code of Safe Working Practice for Merchant Seamen
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