Port Headland Australia Mooring Requirements
Port Hedland Authority issued the Marine Safety Bulletin 01/2021, regarding mooring safety with the port and terminals. Additionally BHP issued new requirements to come into force from May 2021.
Mooring line failures / parted mooring line incidents pose a significant risk to personnel, infrastructure, and operations in the port. Over the past few years, a significant number of mooring line incidents were reported in the Port of Port Hedland (the Port). These form approximately 20% of all marine incidents in the Port.
Port Hedland Marine Safety Bulletin 01/2021
In accordance with the bulletin, all vessels calling Port Hedland should have Line Management Plan (LMP) or similar, in order to:
- Comply with Port Hedland mooring requirements
- Check for wear and damage, and to apply a trained and consistent approach in identifying early indications of a potential mooring line failure.
- Define the intervals for end-forend changes and replacement criteria for mooring lines.
- Manage all assessed risks
- To ensure that during mooring operations, no harm comes to the ship’s crew or terminal staff, no damage is caused to the ship or terminal/facility it is interfacing with and that the mooring system meets all applicable regulations, codes and recommended practices.
- Ensure that the use of chafe guards for protecting mooring lines against chafe damage is adequately implemented as per industry guidelines
- Set and test the winch brakes as per industry;s standards and the recommendations given in ISO Standard 3730:2012 and leading Industry publications such as the OCIMF – Mooring Equipment Guidelines
BHP Requirements
Additionally to the above , the BHP one the major Terminal managers in Port Hedland, has issued updated requirements (which are in line with Marine Safety Bulletin 01/2021), for adequate and safe mooring.
All vessels calling at the Terminal and their crew must comply with the mandatory requirements described below from 17 May 2021. Verification that the vessel and crew are compliant with there requirements will occur through the vessel vetting process, the Terminal Questionnaire and/or an inspection on board the vessel.
Compliance Required
Plans to be developed will comply with
- OCIMF MEG4 Publication
- Port Hedland Port handbook
- Port Hedland Marine Safety Bulletin
- BHP Mooring Lines Latest Requirements (May 2021)
Verification
AMSA local inspectors are expected to verify the local Port Hedland Port Authority and Pilbara Ports guidance and marine safety bulletins. Furthermore BHP states in their circular that all vessels calling at the Terminal and their crew must comply with the mandatory BHP requirements from 17 May 2021. Verification that the vessel and crew are compliant with the requirements will occur through the vessel vetting process, the Terminal Questionnaire and/or an inspection on board the vessel.
Deadlines
BHP requires implementation from 17 May 2021 for all Port Hedland Terminals providing a transition period until 01 July 2021.
List of Port Marine Circular & BHP Requirements
Item | Requirement | Status |
Certification | ||
1. | Vessels shall have on board, valid and up-to-date certificates for all mooring lines and mooring tails that are in use or kept as spares. These certificates must be produced for inspection if requested by BHP | New |
2. | Mooring lines shall not exceed a maximum duration of 5 years from the date stated in each line certificate, unless the vessel can demonstrate to BHP’s satisfaction that:
|
Modified |
3. | At all times, the minimum length of the mooring line shall be 200 metres. | Existing |
4. | The maximum diameter of the mooring line must not exceed 110mm | New |
5. | The guaranteed minimum breaking load (GMBL) on all lines shall be >75T, if the DWT>=120k. | Existing |
6. | Mooring lines on the vessel in the same service area (e.g. headlines, spring lines, breast lines and stern lines) must be uniform in all respects i.e. the same type of material, diameter and have the same minimum breaking load (MBL). | Existing |
7. | All mooring lines (including spares) shall be in good condition and free from knots, bends, splices and wear/abrasion damage. | Existing |
8. | Each vessel shall carry a minimum of 2 spare mooring lines of each type of mooring line carried on board, and the spare mooring lines must meet all the same requirements as the lines in use | Existing |
9.. | Wire ropes will not be accepted. | New |
High modulus synthetic fibre lines | ||
10. | Lines with limited stretch (elasticity), such as high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) lines, must be used with mooring tails in line with the recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). | New |
Mooring Tails | ||
11. | Vessels shall ensure that all tail (pendant) connections to the main line are in accordance with the requirements of the OEM. | New |
12. | Tails must have a breaking force that is recommended by the OEM and suitable of the mooring line that they are joined to AND Tail end ropes must be changed in accordance with the OCIMF guideline or every 24 months from the date of certificate, subject to the rope condition assessed by BHP; whichever comes first. | New |
13. | Tails must have a minimum length of 11 metres. | New |
14. | Metal shackles will not be accepted. | New |
Winch Breaks | ||
15. | Winch rendering limits are to be in accordance with the requirements of:
The winch brakes must complete and pass brake-rendering tests once every 12 months; or after mooring ropes in the same service area are changed; or after mooring winch break lining are changed, whichever comes first. |
New |
16. | Mooring winch brakes shall be set at 60% of the vessel’s design MBL >45T, if the DWT>=120k. | New |
Vessel crew and line management | ||
17. | Adequate vessel crewing shall be made available to ensure moorings can be monitored at all times | New |
18. | Mooring lines shall not be secured on crucifixes or on to warping drums (drum ends). | New |
19. | The full length of all mooring lines shall undergo at least one detailed inspection at intervals of not more than 12 months and all records shall be kept on board and made available for inspection upon request. | New |
20. | Mooring lines shall be turned/rotated end to end every 2.5 years from the time in first use and records shall be made available for verification by BHP. | Modified |
BHP mooring line technology incentive
Additionally to above requirements, a new mooring line technology incentive will come into force from 1st April 2021.
BHP will discount the line handling fee for certain new technology adoption, to incentivize the advancement of mooring line safety improvements. The incentive will apply to the use of products incorporating technology aimed at reducing the snap backs of mooring lines together with the appropriate line management plan,as determined or approved by BHP.
Actions required
Managers of ships calling Port Hedland should have an effective Mooring Management Plan to ensure that the mooring lines are inspected, operated and maintained in accordance with port’s requirements in order to support and address the requirements set by Marine Safety Bulletin 01/2021 and BHP guidelines.
The MLMP should contain:
- A detailed description of the procedures, roles and responsibilities required
- An equipment section with all equipment requirements and guidance
- An Inspection section for inspections and monitoring requirements.
- A training Section for crew familiarization (using training Posters or other material)
Taking into consideration that :
- These are new and formal requirements for ships calling at Port Hedland
- A transitional period provided by BHP only up to the end of June, and
- There are several differences with MEG4 (see below Annex)
It is strongly recommended that ship managers should ASAP either develop Mooring and line Management Plans to fully comply with the Port Hedland requirements or revise the already existing/developed plans.
How we may help
SQEMARINE has already developed more than 850 Mooring Systems & Lines Management Plans based on OCIMF MEG 4 requirements and can provide a proper ship specific solution with a either a revision of an existing plan or a development of a new Mooring Lines Management Plan in line with the Port Hedland requirements.
You may also find further information on the Port Marine Circular and BHP guidelines at SAFETY4SEA
Annex A: OCIMF MEG4 vs Port Hedland Mooring Requirements
No. | Requirement | OCIMF MEG-4 | Port Hedland Requirements |
1. | Vessels shall have on board, valid and up-to-date certificates for all mooring lines and mooring tails that are in use or kept as spares. These certificates must be produced for inspection if requested | Yes | Yes |
2. | Mooring lines shall not exceed a maximum duration of 5 years from the date stated in each line certificate, unless the vessel can demonstrate to BHP’s satisfaction that:
|
No specific time requirement | Yes |
3. | At all times, the minimum length of the mooring line shall be 200 metres. | No specific minimum requirement | Yes |
4. | The maximum diameter of the mooring line must not exceed 110mm | No specific maximum requirement | Yes |
5. | The guaranteed minimum breaking load on all lines shall be >75T, if the DWT>=120k. | No specific minimum requirement | Yes |
6. | Mooring lines on the vessel in the same service area (e.g. headlines, spring lines, breast lines and stern lines) must be uniform in all respects i.e. the same type of material, diameter and have the same minimum breaking load (MBL). | No | Yes |
7. | All mooring lines (including spares) shall be in good condition and free from knots, bends, splices and wear/abrasion damage. | Yes | Yes |
8. | Each vessel shall carry a minimum of 2 spare mooring lines of each type of mooring line carried on board, and the spare mooring lines must meet all the same requirements as the lines in use | No | Yes |
9. | Wire ropes will not be accepted | No such requirement | Yes |
10. | Lines with limited stretch (elasticity), such as high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) lines, must be used with mooring tails in line with the recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). | Yes | Yes |
11. | Vessels shall ensure that all tail (pendant) connections to the main line are in accordance with the requirements of the OEM. | Yes | Yes |
12. | Tail end ropes must have a breaking force that is recommended by the OEM and suitable for the mooring line that they are joined to AND Tail end ropes must be changed in accordance with the OCIMF guideline or every 24 months from the date of certificate, subject to the rope condition assessed by BHP; whichever comes first. | Yes | Yes |
13. | Tails must have a minimum length of 11 metres. | 11m or 22m | Yes |
14. | Metal shackles will not be accepted. | No such requirement | Yes |
15. | Winch rendering limits are to be in accordance with the requirements of:
And, the winch brakes must complete and pass brake-rendering tests once every 12 months; or after mooring ropes in the same service area are changed; or after mooring winch break lining are changed, whichever comes first. |
Yes | Yes |
16. | Mooring winch brakes shall be set at 60% of the vessel’s design MBL >45T, if the DWT>=120k. | Yes | Yes |
17. | Adequate vessel crewing shall be made available to ensure moorings can be monitored at all times. | Yes | Yes |
18. | Mooring lines shall not be secured on crucifixes or on to warping drums (drum ends). | Yes | Yes |
19. | The full length of all mooring lines shall undergo at least one detailed inspection at intervals of not more than 12 months and all records shall be kept on board and made available for inspection upon request. | Yes | Yes |
20. | Mooring lines shall be turned/rotated end to end every 2.5 years from the time in first use and records shall be made available for verification by BHP. | No specific time requirement | Yes |
21. | Define the intervals for end-for end changes and replacement criteria for mooring lines | Yes | Yes |
22. | Manage all assessed risks | Yes | Yes |
23. | To ensure that during mooring operations, no harm comes to the ship’s crew or terminal staff, no damage is caused to the ship or terminal/facility it is interfacing with and that the mooring system meets all applicable regulations, codes and recommended practices | Yes | Yes |
24. | Ensure that the use of chafe guards for protecting mooring lines against chafe damage is adequately implemented as per industry guidelines | Yes | Yes |
25. | Set and test the winch brakes as per industry;s standards and the recommendations given in ISO Standard 3730:2012 and leading Industry publications such as the OCIMF – Mooring Equipment Guidelines | Yes | Yes |
26. | Ship design MBL. To be issued for ships subject to MEG-4 | Yes | Νο MBL as per EN issued by Class or Yard |
27. | Mooring equipment & Lines detailed register | Yes | No |
28. | Maximum breaking load for lines (LDBF up 105% of Ship Design MBL) | Yes | No specific requirement |
29. | Retirement of mooring line at 75% of residual strength | Yes | No |
30. | Change Management procedure | Yes | No |