Mooring and Line Handling Procedure

Purpose. This procedure sets out how the mooring gang and line boat attend ship arrivals and departures and handle lines safely at berths and mooring dolphins.

1.Attendance

The port authority notifies the gang of a ship movement through the job and booking register. The gang must be at the berth 30 minutes before the ship's estimated time and confirm attendance by radio to the pilot and the port control. The line boat must be launched and on station for berths with dolphins.

2.Toolbox talk

The gang leader must hold a toolbox talk at the berth covering the ship's size, the mooring plan, the line sequence, the snap-back zones, the escape routes, the weather and any special instructions from the pilot.

3.Personal protective equipment

All gang members must wear a lifejacket, safety boots, gloves, a helmet and high-visibility clothing. Line boat crew must wear an inflatable lifejacket and carry a radio.

4.Handling lines

Lines must be taken from the ship on the heaving line and led to the bollard or hook without crossing another line under load. Gang members must stay out of snap-back zones and bights and must never stand between a line and the edge of the wharf. Lines under load must not be surged by hand.

• Never stand in a bight
• Keep clear of snap-back zones
• Communicate every action by radio
• Stop work if the ship's crew is not following the plan

5.Communication

All communication with the ship, the pilot and the tugs must be by radio on the working channel using standard mooring terms. The gang leader must confirm all fast or all clear to the pilot.

6.Mechanical equipment

Capstans and winches must be operated only by trained gang members. Hydraulic hooks must be checked before use and any defect reported through the defect procedure.

7.Records

The gang leader must close the job in the register with the times of first line and all fast, the gang members present and any incidents or near misses.