5.25 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS WHILE DISCHARGING

The cargo discharge plan prepared by the chief officer indicates only the principal activities (pump, COW and ballast), scheduled for the discharge port. Each watch officer should build on that plan, at the beginning of his watch, to develop a schedule of activities for his personnel for the next four hours. This plan may be in his head, or better yet in his deck notebook, but making the plan is an essential effort to ensuring a smooth watch. In making the plan, each cargo watch officer must consider the cargo discharge plan, the current status of operations, the weather forecast, the times of tides, arrival of stores, completion of repairs, scheduled inspections and any other known events.
One principal objective of the plan is to avoid a convergence of events or activities at one time. The activities of the watch team should be scheduled to produce a steady activity across the entire period of the watch.

5.25.1 Tending mooring lines and gangway

Case evaluation
A tanker in an offloading berth, near the end of its discharge , is even more exposed to severe weather than it would be at sea. It has no room to manoeuvre, or to change its heading and may not be able to add ballast. Because of this exposure, the master and chief officer must keep as well informed regarding the weather forecast in port as they are at sea. This information must be passed on to the cargo watch officers. If severe weather threatens, the chief officer or cargo watch officer must take early and effective measures to ensure that the vessel will remain moored securely alongside the berth. If the weather forecast is so severe that remaining safely in berth cannot be assured, the cargo discharge should be suspended, loading arms/hoses disconnected and preparations made to take the ship off the berth. Where a berth is exposed to weather and sea from its offshore side, the master must carefully observe the weather forecast and be prepared to leave the berth if severe weather is forecast from the exposed direction. If the ship is allowed to remain in such a situation and severe weather develops quickly, tugs may be unable to work alongside and the vessel will be trapped against the berth at the mercy of the storm. Tankers and berths have been severely damaged in this way.
In normal weather conditions, the schedule of tending mooring lines will be determined by the tide and the offloading schedule. Lines should be tended immediately before any cargo operation which will require most or all of the attention of the watch team.
Lines must be tended more frequently when the tide is flooding. Anchorage, Alaska is an example of a port where the lines must be tended almost continuously due to the high tidal range. Mooring lines may need to be tended infrequently, or not at all in some berths, while the tide is ebbing.
After adjustment, winches should always be left with only the brake engaged. Power should never be left on a winch to 'automatically' tension it, nor should constant tension winches be left in the automatic position while moored and loading.
Manning of the cargo watch should be arranged so that there are sufficient personnel available at all times to properly attend both the mooring lines and the cargo operation.
Towing off wires should be maintained as indicated in section 5.9.1.

5.25.2 Hoses and loading arms
(See section 3.20.2)
Cargo arms should be checked carefully while stripping cargo ashore at the end of the discharge. Occasionally the speed pf a reciprocating pump will set up a harmonic oscillation, or swaying, of the cargo arm. this swaying action can cause structural stress and may cause the arm to fail. If loading arm swaying is noted, stop the stripping pump and then resume stripping at a slower (or faster), stroke rate, meanwhile watching the cargo arm carefully until the discharge is complete.

5.25.3 Gangway watch
(See section 3.20.3)

5.25.4 Discharge line joints and connections
Cargo discharge pipe joints must be frequently checked for leakage. Main deck lines will have been under considerable (sagging) stress during the loaded passage and weaknesses may have developed. Gaskets of flanged or dresser connections can fail under pressure with two effects:
• Cargo is sprayed into the surrounding area, creating an explosive vapour hazard and
• Large amounts of cargo are spilled onto the deck, creating a safety and pollution hazard.
All sections of the discharge line and the manifold connection must be frequently inspected for leaks.

5.25.5 Safety inspections
Regular checks of personnel safe work practices should be conducted. Personal protective equipment must be worn when appropriate. Rescue and fire fighting equipment must be checked for readiness.
The deck watch should be questioned about the necessary responses to emergencies which may arise and instructed if they respond incorrectly.

5.25.6 Garbage and other discharges
All ships garbage must be retained on board in port or disposed of to a shore garbage container. Covered containers should be used for storage.The incinerator should not be used in port. Any unusual discharges from the engine room area should be reported immediately to the engineer on watch.

5.25.7 Engine room manning
While the vessel is in port, adequate engineering staff including certified engineering officers, electricians and sufficient ratings, must be continuously on board. The provisions of STCW 1978, Resolution 4 should be followed.

5.25.8 Theft
Measures against theft of vessel equipment and crew personal effects should be implemented, including:
• Exclusion from the ship of any person who does not have an authorised job on board.
Keeping all offshore means of access secured. Regular inspection of anchor cables and mooring lines
• Keeping the deck well lit, with regular crew patrols.
• All unused spaces should be kept locked.