Page 37 - 2022 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus
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Essentially, a comparison is made between   P&I Insurance Club. When necessary, relevant
        the vessel and the terminal equipment after   clauses shall be challenged for amendments
        scrutinizing all the information exchanged. It   and negotiations. 
        is worth noting that if even one of the above   After the document analysis review, a Prelim-
        requirements is not met, the ship is likely   inary Ship/Shore Interface Meeting, attended
        to be rejected by the terminal. In case the   by representatives of the ship operator, char-
        vessel does not comply properly with the   terer, and terminal, is sometimes called to
        requirements of the Terminal, our goal is to   examine  the  berth  configuration,  ship–shore
        immediately find effective alternative ways   interfaces, safety, and security, communication
        for the vessel to meet the Terminal’s spec-  items, pilot procedure, and operational details.
        ifications to receive approval to operate in
        that port.                         Mooring Analysis:
                                           One of the most significant aspects of the
        Operational compatibility:         compatibility study is the mooring plan that
        Verifying the technical compatibility and op-  will be agreed upon and approved by all
        erational procedures necessary for the official   parties involved. The mooring analysis is
        acceptance is essential to ensure that the   conducted via OPTIMOOR, a unique computer
        vessel and the Terminal are familiar with each   program and essential tool based on the
        other’s Ship/Shore Safety Working Procedures   relevant Oil Companies International Marine
        to work safely. Some of the most important   Forum (OCIMF) recommendations and proce-
        items checked during this step include:  dures and includes OCIMF wind and current
                                           coefficients for gas carriers. OPTIMOOR is used
        -  Connection/disconnection of loading arms  to assess the adequacy of vessel mooring
        -  Purging procedure for ensuring a non   equipment for the terminal mooring arrange-
          flammable atmosphere             ment and plans the optimum mooring layout
        -  Draining procedure for removal of liquid  reacting to different weather conditions.
        -  Number and sequence of pumps    Within OPTIMOOR, descriptions of the vessel
        -  Ramp up/down procedure          mooring  equipment  and  arrangement  and
        -  Loading/Discharging rates       the placement of terminal mooring points are
        -  Cool Down of Liquid Lines       prepared on simple “spreadsheets.” Another
        -  Time arrangements for delivery of supplies  “spreadsheet” is then used to describe the
                                           mooring line arrangement of the vessel at
        As already mentioned, commercial and insur-  the berth. The wind and current velocities
        ance considerations are also part of the SSCS   and directions are then added to analyze the
        since they can compromise the operation’s   mooring system by calculating mooring line
        safety. The Custody Transfer Measurement   loads and vessel motion. This way, the pros
        (CTM) system settings, arrival cargo, tank tem-  and cons of various mooring arrangements
        perature and pressure, expected ROBs, trim,   can be explored and demonstrated. Through
        and list requirements constitute commercial   the tide, draft, and trim changes a prediction
        aspects. At the same time, the terminal’s doc-  can be made on line tensioning requirements
        uments that require signing (Condition of Use,   and afterwards it can be decided what might
        Port Liability Agreements, Tug Services Agree-  be the best tensioning action at a particular
        ments) need to be reviewed by the vessel’s   time. 


























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