Anchoring, docking and mooring

• Pages: 75-77

75

19. Anchoring, docking and mooring1

19.1. General provisions

19.1.1. All anchoring, docking and mooring work should be supervised by a

competent person, who must be in constant communication with the bridge.

19.1.2. (1) The windlass, anchors, chains, mooring lines and wires should be

carefully maintained and regularly inspected for damage and defects.

(2) They should be periodically tested in accordance with the requirements of the

competent authority.

19.1.3. Appropriate personal protective equipment should be provided to all

seafarers involved in these operations.

19.1.4. Seafarers should be aware that it is usual for capstans, winches, or

windlasses to be designed so as to stall or pay out before exceeding the safe working

load of the weakest part of the system. Seafarers should not tamper with such

arrangements.

19.2. Anchoring

19.2.1. Any anchor or chain showing defects should be withdrawn from service

and repaired only by properly qualified persons.

19.2.2. In general, the anchor should not be dropped from the hawsepipe but

should be walked back to a suitable position and let go from that position.

19.2.3. Anchors may be let go at inappropriate moments due to the wrong

message being received on a portable transceiver. All instructions should be

"identified" by some means, e.g. by including the name of the vessel in the instruction.

19.2.4. Seafarers engaged in operating the brake, and others in the vicinity should

wear goggles and safety helmets for protection from dust and debris thrown from the

chain.

19.2.5. Seafarers engaged in stowing an anchor chain into the locker should stand

in a protected position and should keep in constant communication with the windlass

operator.

19.2.6. Anchors housed and not required should be properly secured to guard

against accidents or damage should the windlass brake be released inadvertently.

1 The publication Effective mooring (London, 1989) of the International Chamber of Shipping

provides further guidance on this topic.