Page 14 - CHIRP annual digest 2016.pdf

CHIRP Maritime

mooring running ashore, the ship’s leads and the communicate with the Mate aft; he/she can signal
mooring winch operator, to ensure that signal relay down to the aft main deck spring winch operator and
will be maintained. Tensioning needs constant leave the Mate to attend the poop. For the forward
observation and control. It can be literally a killer to mooring station, the manifold or amidships location
be distracted and become “hands on”. Maintaining an may well be a good option. Far from the winch
overview is essential at all times and being as well as operator and moorings but closer to the bollard or
standing as far away from the line as possible. hook ashore, or fenders alongside, for the back springs.
Most important of all we need to be assured of
To move forward on this subject and to start thinking
outside “the box” we need a few new ideas in the pot. From effective signalling/communications to the forward
mooring station. Note these locations are only needed
the perspective of safety culture we need to encourage an
innovative approach, as only with new ideas, building on for the tensioning part of the operation as this is where
the greatest risk of snap back exists!
proven skills and experience, do we move forward.
Namely: So in summary we need to move away from the large
■ An assumption that within the single highlighted number of “Snap Back Zones” and the implied safety that
mooring area warning line ALL areas are unsafe during allegedly exists outside of the highlighted danger area. We
tensioning and become the Snap Back Zone. need to move towards carefully considered mooring
■ Anywhere close to any lead, ship’s side or roller “tension spots”. These are the fewer, well-judged and
pedestal variety, poses the greatest threat due to firmly rooted locations where the risk is mitigated,
complex snap back arcs, snaking or fouling. These controlled: Only then can we be consistently assured of a
areas are LETHAL. comparative lessening of exposure to snap back. Snap back
■ An appreciation that the officer, or person in charge, will never go away but we may then have a better system
is often at the greatest risk. The very location for the in place to manage its effect when a rope does fail.
best overview is often the area most exposed to the
Can “Tension Spots” replace the “Snap Back Zones”? The
danger. We have all preferred to stand by the lead so
we can best observe the mooring line inch in and out concept is believed to be a step away from the snap back
danger and towards safer mooring tensioning locations.
to monitor tensioning effectiveness. THIS IS THE
VERY WORST PLACE TO BE. The challenge is for you to get your thinking caps on for
the best places to place the "Tension Spots".
So to encourage discussion, let us consider a single
highlighted spot where the person in charge will stand for
each tensioning permutation in a comparatively safe
location.
1. There are certainly fewer of these than dangerous
“Snap Back Zones”.
2. The location must be carefully considered for snap
back safety, prior to any tensioning operation being
conducted, and marked accordingly. Allow for Back
Springs here, Breast lines there and Head/Stern lines.
Either side of the ship…. Half a dozen highlighted
“tensioning spots” at most.
3. Habitual and repetitive regime of where we place
ourselves significantly reduces exposure to the
variables. Apply a better control of a uniform standard
as best we can.
4. These “Tensioning Spots” need to be as remote from
the mooring lines as reasonably possible and yet still
ensure the person in charge can maintain visibility and
control of the operation. As regards the after mooring
station, the Master, from the bridge wing, can

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