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Anchor Handling and Towing Operations: BOMMI-PRD-07.0013-rev.00
Anchor Handling and Towing Operations: BOMMI-PRD-07.0013-rev.00
Towing Operations
BOMMI-PRD-07.0013-rev.00
Anchor Handling and Towing
Operations
BOMMI-PRD-07.0013
Table of Contents
1 Purpose .....................................................................................................................................................3
2 Scope .........................................................................................................................................................3
4 [Description ...............................................................................................................................................5
4.1 Stability ..............................................................................................................................................5
4.2 Operations .........................................................................................................................................5
4.2.1 Equipment checks ......................................................................................................................5
4.2.2 Bollard pull ..................................................................................................................................6
4.2.3 AHT winch emergency stop........................................................................................................6
4.2.4 AHT quick release ......................................................................................................................6
4.2.5 Mechanical wire stopper .............................................................................................................6
4.2.6 Record keeping...........................................................................................................................6
4.2.7 Training .......................................................................................................................................7
4.2.8 Personal protective equipment and working practices ...............................................................7
4.3 Maintenance ......................................................................................................................................7
4.3.1 Winch emergency release systems maintenance ......................................................................7
4.3.2 Wire stopper emergency release maintenance ..........................................................................7
4.4 Emergency towing.............................................................................................................................7
4.5 Emergency towing booklet ................................................................................................................8
4.6 Emergency towing procedures..........................................................................................................8
5 Records ...................................................................................................................................................10
6 Related documents.................................................................................................................................10
1 Purpose
This procedure is intended to provide guidance for safe anchor handling and towing operations. It shall be
read in conjunction with Anchor Handling and Towing (AHT) Manuals, procedures, international
procedures and specific procedures provided by clients.
Anchor handling involves a number of special marine operations. The high tensions experienced in chains
and wires may cause high heeling moments, high transverse and/or astern movements of the anchor
handling vessel. The vessel’s motion through the water may also be affected by high hauling speed on the
anchor handling winch or as a result of any loss of bollard pull. The vessel may be pulled astern at speed by
the tension in a heavy anchor arrangement. Any simultaneous loss of thrust (for any reason) on the vessel
may lead to a rotation which could considerably affect extra transverse forces. Environmental conditions may
also influence the operations. For these reasons the vessel’s stability needs to be closely monitored.
Operations on deck involve other hazards such as slips, trips, falls, crush/pinch points, the handling of heavy
equipment and various other areas that all personnel shall be fully aware of.
It is not possible to describe every situation (as all jobs are different) but general Procedures for stability and
anchor handling/towing operations are provided in this procedure.
2 Scope
This procedure is applicable to all Anchor Handling and Towing vessels within BOURBON.
Client Satisfaction Process Owner has the responsibility, authority and accountability for:
a) Ensuring compliance of this document to the related Corporate Client Satisfaction Process
requirements.
4 Description
4.1 Stability
This section shall be read in association with Vessel Stability Procedure.
Stability of the vessel shall be checked prior to starting any anchor handling and towing operations. In
addition to sailing condition, stability calculations shall consider worst case scenarios. Printouts of these
conditions are to be displayed and available throughout the operation and reviewed as soon as there is any
event which may change the vessel’s condition.
Prior to sailing, a document shall be displayed on the bridge, visible and available to all deck officers on duty.
This document shall show the acceptable vertical and horizontal transverse force/tensions to which the
vessel can be exposed, including a sketch of the GZ curve and a table of the tension/forces that provides the
maximum acceptable heeling moment. Calculations shall show the maximum acceptable tension in
wire/chain (including transverse force) that can be accepted in order for the vessel’s maximum heeling to be
limited by one of the following angles:
• Heeling angle equivalent to a GZ value equal to 50% of maximum GZ;
• The angle of flooding of the work deck (the angle that results in water on deck when the deck is flat);
• 15 degrees.
The calculation shall then be made to show the maximum force from the wire/chain, acting down at the stern
roller and transversely to the outer pins, which would be acceptable without taking the vessel beyond the
angles stated above.
The document to be visible and available shall also show the maximum force in the wire/chain as well as the
point where the lateral force is assumed to be applied (towing pin/stern roller. The maximum vertical pull on
the wire/chain shall not be such as to exceed those limits given above or to exceed the SWL of the roller.
If deep water work is planned, weight on the stern roller can be hundreds of tons, which may be applied at a
distance off centre line according to the set-up of the towing pins. This shall add to listing moments and stern
trim. This condition usually results in a reduction of stability and the deck edge is immersed earlier as the
stern trim increases.
Before any ballasting operation is carried out the operator should be aware of the immense effect on stability
of having any tank slack, particularly transverse roll reduction tanks. Consideration shall be given to the
maximum listing/heeling angle which would be acceptable during the operation.
To preserve stability by reducing the risk of flooding, all watertight doors which open onto the main-deck and
give access to under-deck spaces shall be kept closed during AHT operations. All such doors shall be clearly
marked accordingly.
4.2 Operations
Deck equipment shall be checked, a good supply of punches and hammers are needed, and some
breakages of these could be expected, especially with Kenter links. Buoy lassoes, for recovering buoys from
Vessel specific procedure shall be developed onboard relating to the winch emergency stop devices. This
procedure shall also address the winch emergency stop operation during simulated black out.
Vessel specific procedure shall be developed onboard relating to the winch emergency release devices.
This procedure shall also address the winch emergency release operation during simulated black out and
function testing on a periodic basis.
Vessel specific procedure shall be developed onboard relating to the wire stopper devices. This procedure
shall also address the emergency release operation during simulated black out.
4.2.7 Training
Familiarity of personnel with all relevant on-board systems is essential. Personnel new to the ship shall be
given a ship-specific induction which shall include, in addition to safety matters, any parts of the anchor
handling equipment which they may encounter during their assignment to the vessel. Every opportunity
should be used to give officers the chance to learn to handle the ship and winches safely. Occasions when
there is less intensive workload, e.g. spooling wires in port, may provide good opportunities for training.
Training requirements may, on occasion, require that personnel move to a more suitable vessel. Where
appropriate, training courses shall be identified and used as a base for continued onboard training.
Working hours shall be carefully monitored to ensure that no person exceeds their statutory limits and that
hours of rest are adequate. Fatigue should be recognized as a hazard and periods of rest shall be adequate.
Sufficient experienced crew shall be made available to allow for this.
4.3 Maintenance
The towing procedures shall be maintained on board the ship for ready use by the ship’s crew in preparing
their ship for towage in an emergency.
The crew shall have good knowledge of equipment stowage location and accessibility. Any identified
improvements to stowage arrangements shall be implemented.
Crew dealing with an emergency situation shall be aware of power availability required for winches and tools,
as well as for deck lighting (for bad/low visibility and night time situations).
The ability of the ship to be towed from bow and stern shall be evaluated, and the following items should be
reviewed:
• Line handling procedures (passing and receiving messenger lines, towlines, bridles);
• Layout, structural adequacy and safe working loads of connection points (fairleads chocks, winches,
bitts, bollards).
The availability and characteristics of radio equipment on board should be identified, in order to enable
communication between deck crew, bridge and the towing/salvage ship.
Unless the safe working loads of connection points are known, these loads shall be determined by an
engineering analysis reflecting the on-board conditions of the ship.
The evaluation shall be performed by persons knowledgeable in towing equipment and operations.
Comprehensive diagrams and sketches shall be available and include the following:
• Assembly and rigging diagrams;
• Towing equipment and strong point locations;
• Equipment and strong point capacities and safe working loads (SWLs).
A copy shall be kept at hand by the owners/operators in order to facilitate the passing on of information to
the towage company as early as possible in the emergency.
A copy shall also be kept in a common electronic file format, which shall allow faster distribution to the
concerned parties.
A communications plan for contacting the salvage/towing ship. This plan shall list all information that the
vessel’s Master needs to communicate to the salvage/towing ship. This list shall include but not be limited to:
• Damage or seaworthiness;
• Status of ship steering;
• Propulsion;
• On deck power systems;
• On-board towing equipment;
• Existing emergency rapid disconnection system;
• Forward and aft towing point locations;
• Equipment, connection points, strong points and safe working loads (SWL);
• Towing equipment dimensions and capacities;
• Ship particulars.
Evaluation of existing equipment, tools and arrangements on board the ship for possible use in rigging a
towing bridle and securing a towline.
Identification of any minor tools or equipment providing significant improvements to the “towability” of the
vessel.
Inventory and location of equipment on board that can be used during an emergency towing situation; other
preparations (locking rudder and propeller shaft, ballast and trim).
5 Records
• Emergency Towing Booklet
• Vessels log books, inclusive of “rough” logs, notes related to AHT duties etc.
• Vessels Planned Maintenance System.
6 Related documents
• Ship specific Anchor Handling and Towing Manuals
• B-GDL-03.0007 – OSM Guidelines
• Emergency Towing Procedure
• Vessel Stability, SMS Section 6
• Statoil – Best practice – Safe Anchor Handling and Towing of Mobile Offshore Units - (CD). Note: If CD
in above reference is available, just insert it in the CD reader and it shall be automatically activated;
AHTS
Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessel
ETB
Emergency Towing Booklet
GZ
Righting Lever: when an external force heels the vessel, the centre of buoyancy / centre of gravity are not in
the same horizontal line and a horizontal distance exists, with buoyancy returning the vessel to a level,
upright condition (the righting Lever – GZ)
ISM Code
International Safety Management Code
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
SWL
Safe Working Load