Tankers & Tugs Flashcards
⟡You are on a laden tanker preparing to enter Queens Gate, what is the maximum draft for a minus 1ft tide for the transit?
On the approach to Queen’s Gate, while in the channel, the controlling depth is 76 ft. Since the minimum UKC requirement for the Port of Long Beach is 10% of the vessel’s draft for the transit between the seabuoy and Buoy #3, a maximum draft of 69 ft is acceptable (69 ft + 6.9 ft = 75.9 ft). With a tide of -1 feet, the maximum draft is reduced by 1 foot to 68 ft.
⟡You are the master of a tug with a tow on approach to Long Beach. You will enter the harbor, break tow, and proceed to berth. Describe the sequence of events.
・Check into the VTS (25nm off of Pt. Fermin).
・Check into the Precautionary Area.
・Notify LB Pilots on VHF Ch. 74 of your intentions to enter the harbor, break tow, and go to berth, and to obtain an escort tug (if necessary).
・Enter the harbor when no traffic conflicts and break tow to put the barge on the hip.
・Notify LB Pilots of barge on hip and proceed with caution to berth.
・Notify LB Pilots when the vessel has first line and when it is fast at berth.
⟡Tanker Force Matrix
TANKER FORCE SELECTION MATRIX
Tanker Displacement (Metric Tons) ——– Forces For Tug(s) Tethered at the Stern (Short Tons)
0 to < 60,000 —————————————————- 10
60,000 to < 100,000 ——————————————- 20
100,000 to < 140,000 ——————————————- 30
140,000 to < 180,000 ——————————————- 40
180,000 to < 220,000 —————————————— 50
220,000 to < 260,000 —————————————— 62
260,000 to < 300,000 —————————————— 75
300,000 to < 340,000 —————————————— 87
340,000 to < 380,000 —————————————— 105
380,000 to < 420,000 —————————————— 128
・Only tractor type tugs may be employed.
・Laden tankers with displacements less than 180,000 metric tons must employ at least one tractor tug.
・Laden tankers with displacements equal to or greater than 180,000 metric tons may employ two tugs that have sufficient combined power, provided that: both tugs have bollard pull ratings of 45 short tons or more; a team towing configuration is used.
・No more than two escort tugs may be used to meet the “Forces For Tug(s)” requirements in the Tanker Force Selection Matrix, except in cases of emergency and as provided below.
・The tanker master/pilot shall arrange for additional escort tug(s) should adverse weather conditions, unusual port congestion, the contemplated movement of the vessel or other conditions or circumstances so require.
・All the escort tugs required to satisfy the Tanker Force Selection Matrix shall be tethered on the tanker’s stern.
⟡Tanker Zones
Three tank vessel escort zones are established as follows:
・Zone 1: All waters within 2.0 nautical miles to seaward of the Federal Breakwater; Escort tugs are required for all tank vessels.
・Zone 2: All waters in the approaches to the Port of Long Beach within 3.5 nautical miles to seaward of the Federal Breakwater; Escort tugs are required for all tankers with a static deep draft that is more than 16.5 meters (54’ 01.6”).
・Zone 3: All waters in the approaches to the Port of Los Angeles within 4.0 nautical miles to seaward of the Federal Breakwater; Escort tugs are required for all tankers with a static deep draft that is more than 14.0 meters (45’ 11.2”).
⟡What are the working frequencies for tugs and pilots in the port of Los Angeles?
For tugs, use VHF 77 (Primary for LA) or VHF Ch. 65A (secondary). For the LA Pilots, use VHF Ch. 73. [The LA Pilots also monitor VHF Ch. 63A.]
VHF 05A is primary for tugs in Long Beach.
⟡Escort Conference (4 things to discuss)
Prior to commencing an escorted transit, the tank vessel master/pilot shall conduct a Pre-Escort Conference and:
(1) Contact the escort tug master, mate or officer in charge of the watch, to confirm the number and position of the escort tug(s).
(2) Establish the radio frequency to be used for communications.
(3) Establish the anticipated direction of movement and destination of the tank vessel.
(4) Communicate any other pertinent information that the master/pilot and escort tug master, mate or officer in charge of the watch deem necessary to facilitate operations in the case of an unplanned event.
⟡Size of escort tugs and how to discuss.
TANKER FORCE SELECTION MATRIX
Tanker Displacement (Metric Tons) ——– Forces For Tug(s) Tethered at the Stern (Short Tons)
0 to < 60,000 —————————————————- 10
60,000 to < 100,000 ——————————————- 20
100,000 to < 140,000 ——————————————- 30
140,000 to < 180,000 ——————————————- 40
180,000 to < 220,000 —————————————— 50
220,000 to < 260,000 —————————————— 62
260,000 to < 300,000 —————————————— 75
300,000 to < 340,000 —————————————— 87
340,000 to < 380,000 —————————————— 105
380,000 to < 420,000 —————————————— 128
・Only tractor type tugs may be employed.
・Laden tankers with displacements less than 180,000 metric tons must employ at least one tractor tug.
・Laden tankers with displacements equal to or greater than 180,000 metric tons may employ two tugs that have sufficient combined power, provided that: both tugs have bollard pull ratings of 45 short tons or more; a team towing configuration is used.
・No more than two escort tugs may be used to meet the “Forces For Tug(s)” requirements in the Tanker Force Selection Matrix, except in cases of emergency and as provided below.
・The tanker master/pilot shall arrange for additional escort tug(s) should adverse weather conditions, unusual port congestion, the contemplated movement of the vessel or other conditions or circumstances so require.
・All the escort tugs required to satisfy the Tanker Force Selection Matrix shall be tethered on the tanker’s stern.
Who requires an escort trug?
・Tank vessels carrying 5,000 or more metric tons of oil in bulk as cargo shall be escorted by a suitable escort tug or tugs.
・Barges with a displacement tonnage greater than 20,000 metric tons require a tethered escort and a one-to-one correlation between the sum of the total displacement tonnage of the primary towing vessel and its barge, and the escort tug(s).
Prior to the tankers reaching the seaward limit of the applicable tank vessel escort zone.
The master/pilot of inbound tankers shall confirm by VHF contact with the required escort tugs(s), that the tug(s) is/are stationed at the seaward limit of the applicable tank vessel escort zone.
Tanker Crew Requirements
(A) sufficient and qualified line handling capable crew members standing by and available to immediately receive lines from each escort tug. The crew shall not be assigned duties that would interfere with their ability to immediately respond to an emergency situation;
(B) its anchors ready for letting go prior to entering the applicable tank vessel escort zone (inbound tankers only);
(C) sufficient and qualified supervisors to provide direct supervision of line handling crew operations for tankers. Supervisors shall have direct radio communication capability with the bridge of the tanker.
Tanker Equipment Requirements
(1) each tanker shall have appropriate and suitably maintained bitts and chocks that are of sufficient size, strength, and number to accommodate the anticipated forces of the escort tug(s);
(2) the tanker tank ship owner/operator shall indicate the location of the appropriate bitts and chocks, as well as the safe working loads, on the ships general arrangement plan for each tanker. This information shall also be communicated to the pilot during the pre-escort conference required by Section 851.24 of this subchapter.
Tank Barge Escort Tugs
・If aggregate displacement tonnage is ≤ 20,000MT, a tethered escort tug must have a bollard pull of at least 10 short tons, and an untethered escort tug must have a bollard pull of at least 15 short tons.
・Tethered escort tug(s) are required for all tank barges and their primary towing vessels whose aggregate displacement tonnage exceeds 20,000MT.
・A total astern static bollard pull (in pounds) equal to or greater than the sum of both the primary towing tug=s and barge=s total displacement tonnage in metric tons. (E.g., where the total towing tug and barge displacement is 25,000 metric tons, the escort tug(s)= astern static bollard pull shall be at least 25,000 pounds or 12.5 short tons).
・A tank barge must be accompanied by a sufficient number, but no more than two tugs to provide the braking force specified in this section.
・The towing tug which provides the power to push or tow a tank barge shall not become an escort tug during the course of a transit unless the towing tug has been relieved of its duties as the primary towing vessel, and replaced with another tug that serves as the primary towing vessel.
・The primary towing vessels for tank barges transiting between the seaward limits of the pilot operating areas and anywhere inside the Federal Breakwater shall restrict their speed to four (4) knots.
・Stationing Requirements - The primary towing tug master or mate shall confirm by VHF contact with the required escort tugs(s), that the tug(s) is/are stationed at the seaward limit of the applicable tank vessel escort zone (as described in Section 851.22(c) prior to the tank barge reaching the seaward limit of the applicable tank vessel escort zone.
・Equipment Requirements - Each tank barge shall have deck chocks and bitts that are of sufficient size, strength and number to accommodate the anticipated forces of the escort tug(s). The tank barge owner/operator shall illustrate the location of the bitts and chocks, and any other locations on the hull, which are capable of withstanding the forces exerted by the escort tug(s), within documentation kept on file with the Marine Exchange, and onboard the towing tug.
What are the minimum UKC Guidelines for tank vessels without double hulls in LALB Harbor?
Tank vessels without double hulls will not enter LALB Harbor with less than 10% (two feet minimum after taking into account: squat, sea state, weather conditions) of the vessel’s deepest draft for UKC.
LALB HSP (XIV) A
To what vessels do the LALB Tank Vessel Escort Regs apply?
The LALB Tank Vessel Escort Regs apply to all laden tank vessels when they are:
• Inbound from the seaward limits of the Pilot Operating Areas,
• Transiting anywhere inside the federal BW (from dock to anchor, anchor to dock, and shifting between docks), and
• Outbound from a dock or another to the federal BW
The LALB Tank Vessel Escort Regs also apply to all escort vessels being used to escort tank vessels during transits
LALB Tank Vessel Escort Regs, 851.22(a) (b)
Who inventories and publishes the results of all tug bollard pull measurements?
Results of all static bollard pull measurements shall be inventoried and published by the Marine Exchange.
LALB Tank Vessel Escort Regs, 851.23(a) (4)
