Professional Documents
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Codes - Standard Club - Anchoring Procedures
Codes - Standard Club - Anchoring Procedures
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Standard Safety
October 2008
In This Issue
- RECENT INCIDENTS
- BALLAST CONDITION
These incidents have resulted in the loss of lives, pollution, and costs
running into tens of millions of dollars. Many notable incidents have
been captured on international television and have commanded frontpage news, allowing worldwide publicity exposure.
(Bermuda) Limited
The Standard Steamship
Over the past two and half years, the Standard Club has had 40
claims where anchoring has been a major contributing cause.
Owners Protection
& Indemnity Association
(Europe) Limited
The Standard Steamship
15 lost anchors
8 collisions whilst at anchor dragging anchor or another vessel
dragging anchor and colliding
Owners Protection
& Indemnity Association
(Asia) Limited
- COMMERCIAL PRESSURE
- PLANNING
- ANCHOR WATCHES
- ANCHORING IN DEEP WATER
- WINDLASS MAINTENANCE
- SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
- CONCLUSION
1 pollution incident
STANDARD SAFETY IS
Since the beginning 2007, more than 100 vessels of all types in the
industry operated by a variety of managers, have been involved in a
navigational incident resulting in a collision or grounding. The majority
were inevitably caused by human error, rather than equipment failure.
Ships grounding as a result of poor anchoring practices are a part of
those statistics.
PUBLISHED BY
THE MANAGERS LONDON
AGENTS:
CHARLES TAYLOR & CO.
LIMITED
International House
1 St. Katharines Way
London, E1W 1UT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7488 3494
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7481 9545
Emergency mobile:
+44 (0) 7932 113573
E-mail: p&[email protected]
www.standard-club.com
The information and
commentary herein are not
intended to amount to legal
or technical advice to any person
in general or about a specific
case. Every effort is made
to make them accurate
and up to date. However, no
responsibility is assumed for
their accuracy nor for the views
or opinions expressed, nor for
any consequence of or reliance
on them. You are advised to seek
specific legal or technical advice
from your usual advisers about
any specific matter.
The Master picks the time and position to anchor, which anchor and
the amount of cable to be used. The equipment used is simple, visible,
and easily inspected, maintained and surveyed. Only on the rare
occasions of distress or emergency is an anchor suddenly let go
in an uncontrolled manner.
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Recent Incidents
The following case studies have been drawn from reports made
by industry bodies including MAIB, AMSB, CHIRP, Nautical Institute
and one from a Standard Club claim.
Ballast condition
Often a contributing factor in anchoring incidents is the fact that the
vessel is in ballast condition. On any size of vessel, when the vessel is in
ballast condition, there is an appreciable increase in windage area. Apart
from the additional forces imposed on the cable, the vessel will probably
behave differently at anchor to when it is loaded. The Pasha Bulker AMSB
Report grounding noted that the vessel had 22,000 tonnes of ballast on
board, which was sufficient for good weather; however, the fore and aft
peak ballast tanks were empty. The ballast was not sufficient to fully
immerse the propeller, giving a mean draft of only 6.0 metres. In the
heavy weather ballast condition, the vessel would have had a draft of
8.50 metres. This is significant to reduce forward slamming in heavy
weather, increasing propeller immersion and, importantly, reducing
windage. This could have made the vessel more manoeuvrable, and, in
heavy weather, prevented potential slamming.
Lower wind forces on a ship due to reduced windage at deeper heavy
weather ballast conditions can significantly improve the control of the
vessel. When vessels are in ballast, the Master should consider taking
maximum ballast with the onset of heavy weather, even if this means the
vessel is no longer load ready.
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Masters must check the proximity of sea bed pipelines and cables
from up to date chart information before anchoring
Masters must be aware of the limitations of the anchoring
equipment
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Safety Factors
Anchor Shackle
Shank
Fluke
Anchor cable
Anchor on sea-bed
Amount of cable
The Pasha Bulker , for example was fitted with a standard Admiralty Class
AC14 cast steel high holding power (HHP) anchor. The cable was made
from the highest-quality grade 3 steel.
For an anchor to hold affectively, it is necessary to calculate the
correct length of cable. There are three commonly used and accepted
guidelines (one shackle of cable is equivalent to 27.5 metres):
1) Number of shackles of cable = 1.5D (D=Depth in metres)
2) Length of cables in metres = 6 to 10 x (Depth of water in metres)
3) For special steel cable, a formula of:
Length of cable used in metres = 39 xD where D is the depth of
water in metres.
The scope of the cable is the ratio of the length of cable paid out to the
depth of water. The correct scope of the anchor is important if the
maximum holding power of the anchor is to be realised, particularly in
heavy weather conditions. The anchor holds better when the cable is
pulling horizontally to the anchor, and so the Master must be prepared to
pay out extra cable when conditions such as increased seas, wind,
current and tide require the cable pull to remain horizontal.
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Planning
Therefore to maximise the holding power, the scope of the cable should
be sufficient to ensure that, in fair weather, an adequate length of cable
will lie along the sea bed, allowing the cable to pull the anchor
horizontally. When this occurs, the cable rises gently into the hawse pipe.
This is why extra cable is paid out when the wind, sea or current
increases. The curve of the cable, or catenary, absorbs any shock-loading
when riding to wind and sea. A catenary is necessary for the cable to
have a horizontal pull on the anchor and ensure maximum holding power.
The Master to pick the time of day and location with due regard
to safety of vessel
Commercial Pressure
There is considerable commercial pressure on Masters. This has
been exacerbated in the recent past by many factors, including:
The need for quick turnaround times
Having to be prepared at a moments notice when the port advises that
a berth is ready
Easy communication access and hence immediate pressure from
managers / owners / agents / charterers and terminal operators
Having the vessel available to take stores and crew changes
Trying to comply with shore-side instructions when few of those
issuing the instructions appreciate the scope of problems the Master
has to contend with, and few are concerned with the safety of the ship
or crew.
The overriding responsibility of the Master is the safety of his vessel and
crew. Those involved with the technical and commercial management of
vessels should ensure that this responsibility is given their full and
unequivocal support. This is possibly the single biggest contribution to the
safety culture of a company and requires the active engagement of senior
company managers.
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Safety Factors
Anchor watches
Vigilant anchor watches must be maintained at all times. A certified
watchkeeper must be on the bridge at all times, in all circumstances. In
many of the incidents analysed, a poor anchor watch was a contributing
factor. The OOW must be empowered by the Master to take all
appropriate actions, such as using the engines if the circumstances
require. The Masters bridge orders should be clear and robust in their
content.
In maintaining an anchor watch, the OOW must ensure that:
The latest edition of the largest scale chart is used at all times
An initial anchor position is placed on the chart
The position of his own vessel is maintained, with position checking by
more than one means
Positions of vessels close by are maintained
Weather conditions are monitored in case they change appreciably
A watch is kept on traffic movements
Check the cable regularly
and have the confidence to call the Master whenever there is an
appreciable change in circumstance.
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Ensure that the windlass brake linings are in a good condition and
the bottom band stopper is properly adjusted
While lowering the anchor the vessel should be fully stopped with
no speed over the ground
After laying 1 to 2 shackles on the sea bed, use short burst of
engine power, no more than dead slow ahead or astern to range
the cable to the required length
After the vessel is brought up, place the guillotine bar into the
locked position. Tighten the windlass brake and disengage gear.
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Safety Management
The SMS manuals are there to provide guidance and instruction, and to
cover all expected risks. They should also be clear and prescriptive.
Anchoring procedures must include guidance on:
Empowering Masters to make the decisions necessary for the ships
safety particularly with respect to commercial pressure, designated
anchorages, VTS and pilots advices
Passage planning
Choice of a good anchorage location, planning the anchoring position
and approach in different weathers and visibility; bridge team
management; traffic density, negotiating overcrowded anchorages with
additional risks of collision; safety of swing room, under keel clearance
Conclusion
Anchoring a vessel safely should be an uncomplicated operation.
However, it can only be carried out safely with proper planning,
with a properly instructed bridge team, and when positive on-board
management and leadership are shown. The knowledge of how to anchor
a vessel and the dangers when at anchor must be learnt in the years
before becoming a Master. Owners and managers should ensure that
such knowledge is transferred to junior officers through structured
training and by making that knowledge available. Good seamanship and
the practice of good seamanship are best learnt on the job whilst at sea.
The key issue that ensures that a vessel is safely anchored, and remains
safely anchored, is the leadership and judgement shown by the Master.
A significant factor in most anchoring incidents remains the failure of
Masters to appreciate early on that a dangerous situation is developing
and to take early and decisive action.
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