5. Watchstanding

Mooring lines

In most cases, the loading operation causes the mooring lines to become slack as the weather deck of the ship moves down toward the level of the dock. This reduces the pressure of the ship's hull against the dock face, and its resistance to being moved along the dock by tide, current, or passing ship traffic.

If the vessel is loading at high rates or there is a large tidal range and the mooring leads are short, some member of the cargo watch should be assigned to continuously adjust the moorings to maintain the ship securely alongside the dock.

The lines must be adjusted in a way that does not move the ship in the berth or put an excessive strain on any single mooring line or dock bollard.

After adjustment, winches should always be left with only the brake engaged. Power should never be left on a winch to 'automatically' tension it, nor should constant tension winches be left in the automatic position while moored and loading.

The tendency of the ship to be moved by passing vessels increases as the under-keel clearance of the moored ship decreases. The time when loading is nearly finished and the crew is distracted with final cargo operations and departure preparations is the time when the vessel is most likely to be carried off the berth by any large ships passing at high speed. If the loading berth is parallel to an adjacent ship channel, the deck watch must watch for passing traffic and stand by the mooring winches when large vessels are seen approaching.

Manning of the cargo watch should be arranged so that there are sufficient personnel available at all times to properly attend both the mooring lines and the cargo operation. If necessary, stop loading so that all watch personnel can tend mooring lines.

Moorings should be made tight immediately before topping off tanks, so that the entire deck watch will be available for the topping off operation.

If the ship cannot be safely moored alongside due to stress of weather and/or tide, or insufficiency of shore mooring points, then the master must stop the loading operation and if necessary vacate the berth until conditions have changed sufficiently that the ship can again be properly and safely moored.

Where a berth is exposed to weather and sea from one direction, the master must carefully observe the weather forecast and be prepared to leave the berth if severe weather is forecast from the offshore direction. A ship which remains in a berth in the face of a developing storm may find, at the last moment that tugs are unable to work alongside and the vessel is trapped against the berth and at the mercy of wind and waves. Both tankers and berths have been severely damaged in this way.

When loading by loading arms, the alignment of the arms must be frequently checked to ensure the ship is not creeping forward or aft due to uneven tending of the mooring lines. Both ship and shore must be aware of the loading arm operating envelope and take timely action to see that the maximum limits are not exceeded.

At single point moorings, a continuous watch must be maintained over the buoy and mooring hawser by a crew member stationed in the bow.

Gangway watch

The gangway should be located as far as possible from the loading areas so as to separate the personnel traffic from the most probable sources of danger.

The location of the gangway should include considerations of escape by vessel crew in the event of an emergency and access by shore emergency personnel. The location should be within the protective range of ship and shore fire monitors.

The gangway watch is a vital part of the vessel's security system. The master should consult with the agent to determine the level of security and attendance that is necessary. It is also important that government officials, authorized representatives, new crew members and marine authorities boarding the ship are properly received, logged aboard, provided with safety equipment (as company policy indicates) and escorted to the office of the person they ask to see. No one should be allowed aboard without an identification check and no visitors should be allowed unless invited or approved by the master. A contract security person or properly instructed crew member should be within sight of the gangway at all times. A copy of the ship's firefighting and safety plan must be placed in a red, watertight container marked 'FIRE FIGHTING PLAN' and kept at the head of the gangway while in port.

In most cargo terminals, personnel must pass terminal security before reaching the loading berth, so unwelcome visitors are unlikely to be able to reach the dock. The ship may request that all persons reaching the dock sign in at the deck office and be announced to the cargo officer by radio before being authorized to proceed up the gangway. If a shore watchman is stationed at the gangway, he must be carefully instructed in his duties and provided with a means of contacting the cargo watch.

Any member of the crew who returns from ashore in an intoxicated condition must either be escorted to his quarters and instructed not to leave them until he has 'slept it off, or refused access to the ship and turned over to an agency representative for care and custody until he recovers.

If the shore gangway is used, the ship's crew is responsible only for watching the end secured to the ship. If the ship's gangway is used, the crew is responsible for watching all parts of it to prevent a dangerous condition from developing or damage occurring. At the loading berth it is easy for the lower end to become jammed and for the gangway to be severely damaged as the ship's freeboard decreases.

Proper safety netting must be rigged under the gangway between the ship and the dock and the gangway must be adequately lighted at night.

Any grease or oil left on the hand rails/ropes by careless dock workers must be quickly wiped off. If freezing weather the gangway treads should be salted or sanded as necessary.

Signs indicating “No visitors”, “No open lights”,“No smoking” should be posted at the bottom and top of the gangway, facing arriving personnel. The upper sign usually has the sailing board on the reverse side to indicate to crew going ashore the time and date of the vessel's anticipated departure and the time they are required to be on board.

Aluminum gangways should be protected (by wood or plastic strips), from rubbing against steel railings, decks, or coamings. The aluminum smear left by the gangway can make an incendive spark if struck a sharp blow.