Unit 23

BERTHING

Ship handling operations include manoeuvring and controlling the vessel by

means of engines, helm movements and tug assistance. Berthing means bringing
a vessel to her berth until the ship is made fast. A ship may berth port or
starboard side on or bow or stem on.
The term “berth” refers to the quay, or wharf, or, pier or jetty where the ship
comes alongside, but it may also mean a place in which a vessel is moored or
anchored.
The berthing and unberthing manoeuvres require great knowledge and skill by the master, officers
and the crew, as well as an excellent team-work with the rope-runners and the mooring party
ashore.
A ship may berth port or starboard side to, with no wind or tide, with the tide
ahead, with the wind onshore or offshore. The master, the pilot and the tug
skippers must have good local knowledge of the tides, wind conditions, depths
and aids to navigation, but they also have to take into consideration the
transverse and axial thrust of the propeller, how the ship responds to the rudder
and how much power she develops when running astern.

The MEDITERRANEAN MOOR consists of making a ship fast stem-on to a

berth with the bows held in position by the anchors. Usually about four shackles
of cable are used on each anchor and it is preferable although not always
possible, to achieve a reasonable spread between the anchors so that the bows are
held securely in a beam wind. The approach is best made with the berth on the
port side and the starboard anchor should then be dropped-with the vessel two
ship lengths off the berth and about half a ship length before the line of the berth.
After proceeding slow ahead and paying out cable, the engines should be stopped
and put astern when half a ship length past the line of the berth. (see Fig. 1). As
the vessel gathers sternway the port anchor should be let go. The effect of
transverse thrust as the vessel goes astern paying out cable is to cant the stem to
port towards the berth. (see Fig. 2 p. 195). Stem lines are passed out on the cross
and when turned up on the bitts they may be set up tight by heaving in a few
links of cable (see Fig. 3 p. 195).

In some cases, in exposed positions, a buoy is provided on each quarter. Since

the vessel is made fast at right angles to the line of the shore, the mediterranean
moor is not suitable for use in tideway. It may be used where cargo ships
discharge into lighters or for tankers using their stem discharge line.
Forecastledeck – Mooring and Anchoring Gear

Unmooring manoeuvre
Berth Manager – Jetty Management System
Based on over 40 years of experience in load and
force measurement, Strainstall’s Berth Manager
system is designed to assist the mooring master by
providing comprehensive surveillance of mooring and
vessel-related parameters during approach to the
berth, and while moored. Sensors monitor speed of
approach, mooring loads, weather conditions,
oceanographic parameters and detect any drift off. All
of these values are processed and presented on a PC
based control room display system, which provides
graphics and lists of all critical data, and which is
available on screens in the harbour office and via fibre-
optic link or radio to the ship.
The Berth Manager jetty management system
integrates a number of sub-systems which are all
available as stand alone packages. These systems
are:
a) DockAlert vessel approach monitoring - provides
speed, distance off and drift-off data
b) MoorAlert mooring load monitoring - provides
mooring set-up, mooring tension and alarm data
c) Meteorological/oceanographic monitoring -
provides weather and sea-state information for
reference
MoorAlert – Mooring Load Monitoring
Strainstall’s MoorAlert mooring load monitoring system
provides an accurate indication of mooring loads in multi-
line mooring spreads. A vessel’s mooring lines are measured
and monitored by strain gauged load measuring pins,
installed in the quick release mooring hooks. This enables
each mooring line to be pre-tensioned according to each
vessel’s individual mooring scheme. The load pins detect
any deviation from these defined values and indicate any
alarm conditions. The instrumented hooks and electronics
can be supplied in hazardous area certified form for use on
oil and gas jetties, and have been supplied to many port and
harbour installations world-wide.

DockAlert – Vessel Approach Monitoring

The Strainstall DockAlert vessel approach system uses
distance-measuring lasers on the mooring jetty to
compute the speed of approach, angle of approach
and distance off for a vessel being manoeuvred onto a
dockside mooring. The vessel approach parameters
can be displayed in the harbour office and can also be
made available to the ship’s master via a large digit
display on the jetty which is visible from the ship, or via
a data link. With the vessel moored alongside,
DockAlert can provide information on drift-off and
fender compression. External items can be supplied
certified for hazardous areas to meet the requirements
of oil & gas jetties.
Towing Load Monitoring
The Strainstall towing load monitoring system is
designed to give towing vessel masters a direct
reading of tension in a towing hawser. It consists of
load cells or a load measuring pin fitted to the towing
hook, quick release mooring hook or winch, plus a
readout/alarm warning unit which can be set with
overload thresholds to suit the gauge of rope or wire
being used for the towing operation.
There are 3 typical towing load monitoring
configurations:
• A single channel system with the load pin
designed for incorporation into a swivel joint of a
tugboat quick release mooring hook
• For double drum winches, with both outputs
leading to a single display unit with a switch to
select the desired measurement channel
• For marine towing winches, with the load being
measured by load cells in the brakestay or under
the bed of the winch.
Key features of towing load monitoring include simple
installation, full environmental sealing, accurate
readings, easy maintenance and optional additional
readouts.
Bitts & bollards
IMO STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION
PHRASES (IMO SMCP 2001)

IV-A/5.7.2 -Berthing

Are there any berthing instructions? I What are my berthing instructions?

- No berthing instructions.
- Berthing on arrival.
Your orders are to berth on... .
Your orders changed.
Proceed to ... for orders.
You may enter at... UTC.
You may proceed at... UTC.
Vessel turning/manoeuvring in position... .
MV... will turn in position... .
MV... will leave... at... UTC.
MV ... leaving ... .
MV ... entered fairway in position... .
Your berth is not clear (until... UTC).
Your berth will be clear at... UTC.
You will berth/dock at... UTC.
Berthing delayed by ... hours.
Be ready to get underway.
Move ahead... metres.
Move astern... metres.
Have fenders ready fore and aft.
We will berth port / starboard side alongside.
We will moor to buoy(s) ahead and astern.
We will moor alongside.
We will moor to dolphins.
Send out head/stern/ breast lines.
Send out... spring(s) forward / aft.
Do you have tension winches?
- Yes, we have tension winches (forward and aft).
- No, we have no tension winches.

Have heaving lines ready forward and aft.

Send heaving/ head/ stern/ breast line ashore.
The linesmen will use shackles/lashings for securing mooring.
Use centre/ Panama lead.
Use how lead.
Use port quarter/starboard quarter lead.
Heave on ... line(s)/... spring(s).
Pickup slacken ... line(s)/... spring(s).
Heave away.
Stop heaving.
Slack away... line(s)/... spring(s).
Stop slacking ... line(s)/.. spring(s). Hold on... line(s)/...
spring(s). Heave in easy.
 Heave alongside.
Keep lines tight.
We have to move ... metres ahead/astern.
Your vessel in position - make fast.
We are in position.
Make fast fore and aft.
Fast forward.
Fast aft.

Is propeller clear?
- Yes, propeller clear.
- No, propeller not clear.

Keep propeller clear.

Line handlers take in mooring lines Singling up the mooring lines

Mooring winches Capstan

A. Comprehension & vocabulary

A.1 Supply the appropriate term:

• berthing • mooring gear • berth • berthing operation
• mooring lines
Coming along any l. _____________ can be a very difficult
operation and is always potentially dangerous. The ship's
anchor and 2. ____________ must be made ready for use.
Most frequently tugs are used to assist the ship's
3. ____________ . The Master decides which 4.
____________ are to be used. Each officer must know
exactly his own role in the 5. _____________ .

A2. Explain the movement of the vessel in the following

sentences:
1. Take all the way off.
2. The vessel starts gathering sternway.
3. The vessel moves bow first.
A.3 Sort out the verbs below into two groups:
A. - verbs referring to a movement of the line towards
the person handling
the line
B. - verbs referring to a movement of the line from the
person handling the line
• pull the line on board • cast off the line • run the line
out
• tighten the line • pay out the line • heave on
the line
• slack away the line • haul in the line • send
away the line
• set the line tight, pass the line down to the tug • heave
the line • take the slack back

A (Movement towards the B (Movement away from the

person working the line) person working the line)
A <=========== B ==============>

Pull the line on board Cast off the line

A.4 State which of the following terms is described in the
sentences below:
• moor • Mediterranean moor • berth • mooring buoy
• aids to navigation • heaving line • mooring gear
1. ______________ : the place in harbour in which a ship
rides to her anchor or
is secured alongside.
2. ______________ : space around a vessel at anchor, and in
which she will
swing freely.
3. _____________ : buoy securely moored so that a vessel
can be attached to it
and lie safely.
4. _____________ : a type of berth where the ship's stern is
secured to the quay
and two anchors are laid ahead.
5. _____________ : a light rope used to haul in a heavier
one.
6. _____________ : buoys, light houses, seamarks,
landmarks etc.
7. _____________ : deck and shore fittings for making fast
the rope.
A.5 Match each phrase with its opposite:
• unbend the line • cast off the line • pay out
the line
• make fast the line • slacken the line

1. Tighten the line _____________________

2. Let go the line _____________________
3. Haul in the line _____________________
4. Bend the line
_____________________
5. Pull the line on board
_____________________

A.6 Match each phrase on the left with its synonym on the
right:
A.7 Match the pairs of sentences in the two columns below.
The first one has been done for you:

Berthing at an oil terminal

A At the VLCC Jetty there are 1 loading arms (16 invh A1
four diameter) for crude oil
discharging and 2x12
inch loading arms for
bunker loading.
B Unberthing and berthing is 2 -12 C Pressure: 11
possible only kg/sq.cm.
C The crude oil unloading 3 10.0 Million Tons/year.
capacity is
D "T " Jetty: 4x12 in. FMC 4 during daytime.
loading arms are available for
crude discharge or
E If LOA is more than 200m, 5 is 0.6 Million
Tons/year.
F LPG Platform; 1x8 in. FMC 6 and their lifting
loading arm for LPG, berthing capacities are up to 1.5
only during daytime. tons.
Temperature:
G The LPG unloading capacity 7 berthing is allowed
only during daytime.
H Height of vessel's discharge 8 to avoid causing
manifold above sea level at damage to FMC
the end of discharge (with loading arm.
permanent ballast) should not
I Ship’s height should not be 9 be more than 22 m. for
more than 18 m. in order VLCC Jetty No.1

J Fixed cranes are available at 1 loading of black

all berthing points 0 product.
A.8 Speaking skills. Work in pairs and talk about what you
should know when you are docking at each berth below:
LOA DRAFT
BERTHS D.W.T. PRODUCT
(m) (m)
VLCC
JETTY 360 -19.2 250.000Crude
(a)
“T
JETTY”:
285 -16 150.000Crude & products
(b)Berth
No.1
White products & Lub
Berth No.2 180 -12 60.000
oil
Berth No.3 100 -8 5.000 Products
White products & Lub
Berth No.4 100 -6 3.500
oil
Black & white
Cargo Pier 95 -6 3.000 products, lub
oil,asphalt
LPG
Platform:
230 -13 44.000 LPG
(c)
103 -6.5 5.000 LPG
Berth No.1
Berth No.2

(Alternatively students can be given only partial

information about the berths and they should find the
student ho has the missing parts of the information)
B. Grammar

B. 1 Choose the suitable verb in the brackets and the right

verb form to fill in
the blank spaces:

The pilot is explaining the berthing plan at the mooring

Conference:
PILOT - We'll l. ______________ heading up stream and 2.
_____________ the tide. The tugs will be used just to 3.
______________ her alongside (stem, push, berth).
- CHIEF OFFICER - Where will the tugs 4. _____________
(make fast)?
PILOT - Starboard side, fore and aft on the main deck.
- CHIEF OFFICER - Tug's lines?
PILOT - Yes, they 5. ______________ you a light wire to
help them
6. ____________ in position (give, stay). They 7.
____________ us in, so there 8. _________________ no
need for a heavy towing spring (be, push,). When we 9.
______________ to the berth, we just 10. ______________
the current off the jetty and 11. _____________ her ease
gently down on to the berth (stem, get up, let). The first lines
12._____________________ ashore, via the mooring boat
13. ______________ two headlines (send, be).
B.2 Supply the right preposition or adverb:
CHIEF OFFICER - Take the headlines 1. _____________ the
drum-ends; no more 2. ______ three turns, and heave 3.
______ (Talking 4. ______ the Bridge). Taking the slack
5. ______ on the headlines now.
CAPTAIN - Heave easy 6. ______ the headlines. When the
mooring boat arrives send 7. ______ the spring.
Send 8. ______ the breast line and heave it clear 9. _____
the water, but don't put any weight 10. ______ it.
We have 15 metres to come 11. ______ .
Heave 12. ______ the after back spring. Slack 13. _____
the headropes. Dead 14. ______ ahead.
B.3 Supply the correct prepositional phrase

(equipped with, with drafts up to, according to,

just south of, on the outer side, parallel to, in
the center of)

BERTHING:
Tankers should ask for the berthing time and act
______________ instructions given by the port. Two
berths are available for LPG, four berths for product ,
two berths for crude (Max. vessel size : 250,000 DWT).
Incoming tankers discharge at a "T" type oil jetty
_________ the Tasli Burnu Light. The jetty runs
_________ the coastline and is approximately situated
39° 39' 30" N, 26° 57' 30" E. The outer arm of the
jetty, 317 m. long, is designed for crude oil tankers
100.000 DWT __________ and for tankers os 25.000
DWT on the inner. The outer SE arm is designed for
product tankers up to 22.000 DWT an the inner berth
for small tankers of up to 5.000 DWT. The crude oil
berth is roughly __________ the NW arm and has 4
loading arms. The jetty is protected by 4 pivotal
concrete buffers. The product berth is similarly in the
center of the arm and is ______________ flexible
hoses. Crude oil pumping rate is about 3.000
tons/hour. Vessels _____________ 16.5 meters are
allowed to berth at the crude oil wharf.
D. Writing skills
D.1 Use the questions below to summarize the reading text:
1. What do the ship handling operations include?
2. What is berthing?
3. What does the term berth refer to?
4. What do the berthing and unberthing operations require?
5. What must the Master and tug-skippers take into account when berthing a
ship?
6. What are the main mooring lines?
7. What is the heaving line used for?
Gangway Pilot Ladder
 Further reading
SHIPMASTER'S REPORT
Port. Vada.
Location. 15 miles South of Livorno.
Chart. Chart No. 131.
Documents:
-8 copies Crew List;
-2 copies Crew Declaration;
-2 copies Manifest;
-1 copy Health Declaration;
-3 copies Cargo Manifest;
-3 copies Italian Port Authority Inward and OutwardForms.
Anchorage. Anchorage is 1.2 miles SSW of the pier face.
In poor weather Secche Di Vada Lt. 248° x 1.4 miles found to provide good holding
ground in West winds of Force 7.
Pilotage. Pilots are supplied from Livorno. Vessels should call Livorno Pilot on VHF
Channel 12,2 hours before arrival at Vada.
Pilot boards from a mooring boat about 0.5 miles SW of the pier.
Restrictions. Daylight berthing only and after 0730 hrs. Departure is possible 24 hours
without a Pilot.
VHF. Livorno Information Service on VHF Channel 10. They are very helpful.
Tugs. No tugs available.
Berthing. The berth accepts vessels up to 30,000 cu.m. with a draft 11.0 m.
Vessels normally berth port side alongside. The mooring boat comes from the nearby
general cargo harbour.
It is possifyle to berth starboard side to but this makes departure difficult.
The Pilot likes to use the anchor when berthing, however, he should be persuaded
not to use it as it makes departure difficult and sometimes hazardous.
Moorings in good weatlier consist of 3 head/stern fines and 2 springs forward and
aft. An additional forward back spring is provided by the shore.
Depth alongside is about 42ft.
Shore gangway used.
The berth is very exposed and berthing delays often occur especially in winter. If the
weather deteriorates while the vessel is alongside the berth the vessel may have to
leave in a hurry.
The fenders are good.
Cargo. There is a single ethylene Chicksan of 8 in. which can take the ship's maximum
pumping rate (pressure about 2-3 Bar).
Sampling takes about 4 hours.
The capacity of the shore tank for ethylene is approximately 4,800 tonnes. The
maximum single intake is 4,000 tonnes. The plant uses about 300 tonnes per day for
plastics.
General. The receiver of the cargo was Solvay, Telex No. 500127 Solvri, at Vada.
Very few services available at the rigid pier. No store trucks are able to come down
the pier. The Pier Manager will assist in getting down the pier (length of pier 1 mile)
in a service car.
Crew changes are not normally allowed, however, it would be possible to make one
or two changes as long as prior permission had been given by the terminal. Crew
members arriving have to go to the Agent s Office in Livorno during working hours
(between 0800 and 1700).
The nearest airport is at Pisa which is about 1 hour by car. It is about 40 minutes
walk from the vessel to the town, which is a pleasant tourist town. Monev can be
changed at the bank and exchange bureau next door to the bank between 0800-1300
firs. and 1600- 1800 hrs.