INFORMATION ON S.P.M. OPERATIONS AT COCHIN PORT
Location: The Single Point Mooring of M/s B.P.C.L. (KR) is located in position Latitude 09o 59' 49.93" N; Longitude 076o 02' 30.73" E within the limits of Cochin Port.
| Acceptable Vessel parameters: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Min | Max |
| Length Over All (LOA) | 229 m | 370 m |
| Length Bow to Manifold (BTM) | 80 m | 220 m |
| Displacement | 77,000 M/T | 340,000 M/T |
| Draft (Salt Water) | 22.5 m | |
| Beam | 58 m | |
| Freeboard at Bow mooring fairlead | 26 m | |
| Freeboard at Manifold | 24 m | |
Acceptability of vessels for berthing at S.P.M:
B.P.C.L. (K.R.) have prepared a questionnaire for vessels calling at S.P.M. and a copy of the same or the 'Q88' of the vessel may be forwarded to this office either in hard copy or by e-mail to hm@cochinport.gov.in and acceptance will be given after scrutiny of the vessel's particulars.
Anchorage :
Vessels calling for discharge at the S.P.M. are to anchor 2.5 miles South of the S.P.M.
Pilot Boarding :
Pilots will board from tug boat on the lee side by accommodation ladder approximately 4.5 m above water. Ships are to keep both gangways swung out and ready to be lowered. Once the tug comes alongside the gangway is to be lowered to board the Pilot. During time of adverse weather, a Pilot Ladder or Personnel Basket may be used.
Pilotage :
A Port Pilot will board the tanker about 2.5 miles away from the buoy and appropriate directions would be given to the tanker by the Pilot / Port Control over V.H.F. This Pilot will stay on board the tanker after completion of mooring and monitor the pull back operations und on completion of cargo operations the same Pilot would cast off the tanker and return. It is therefore not critical to book Pilot for sailing of the tanker in advance as the Pilot is already on board, however the movement must be declared at the Berthing Meeting in order to reflect in the Shipping Program.
Communications :
Cochin Port Control works on V.H.F. Channel 15 and watches channels 16 & 15. At the SPM the communications with the tugs and BPCL Control will be on Channel 13.
Mooring Arrangements :
Vessel will be moored to the S.P.M. using two 76mm chains (OCIMF Type B). Vessel to prepare two free mooring drums forward with messenger lines reeled through the bow stoppers and fairleads and kept standby at the break of the forecastle for passing to the mooring boats.
Mooring / Un-mooring restrictions :
Mooring of tankers to the S.P.M. will be undertaken only during daylight hours, therefore a vessel should arrive and board Pilot before 1600 hrs to be able to berth. Vessels arriving later than that would be berthed at first light (Pilot Boarding 0600 hrs) the next day. Un-mooring operations would be undertaken at all hours and since the Pilot is already on board, will be undertaken as soon as the vessel is ready for sailing.
Hose Connections :
Two number hoses of 16 inches will be connected at the Port side manifold of the tanker. Hose connection gear / crew will board the tanker during the approach to the S.P.M. and the vessel's crane will be used for lifting the gear.
Tug Movement :
Two hired tugs of 50 / 60 Tons bollard pull are utilized for the SPM operations as follows:
Both tugs will proceed out to the inbound tanker from inner harbor about 2 hours prior to the Pilot boarding time. All officials, surveyors and other persons requiring to board the tanker are to be on board the tug prior to the appointed time.
After completion of the mooring operations, one tug will remain at the tanker for pull back operations and un-mooring of the tanker from the SPM on completion of cargo operations and would return after disembarking the Pilot.
The second tug will return after the mooring of the tanker.
Shore Personnel boarding the tanker:
Shore personnel boarding the tanker must have proper identification and display the same as required by the I.S.P.S. Code.
These persons must be aware of the difficulty and danger present in boarding vessels in outer harbour. Only those capable of boarding by Pilot ladder (if sea conditions demand it) must be sent to the tanker.
Only the following persons directly involved in the vessels operations will be permitted to utilize the hired tugs when they are engaged for ship operations:
- Port Pilot
- Representatives from B.P.C.L. (K.R.) including the Marine Master
- Representatives of the Ship's Agents
- Representatives from Customs
- Representatives from Immigration
- Cargo Surveyors
Persons other than those listed above, if required for the S.P.M. operations may be permitted to board the tug, subject to prior permission from Port Control.
Any persons wishing to transfer to / from the tanker may utilize the second tug, however it must understood that the tugs are essentially meant for mooring operations and the departure of these tugs cannot be delayed. The tugs cannot be expected to wait and any person failing to arrive before they depart will have to make alternate arrangements. It must also be clearly understood that the persons using this transportation do so at their own risk and the Port will not accept any liability whatsoever for any injury or loss to any persons using the tugs for transfer to or from the tanker. Hire charges as applicable will be charged for use of the tugs by the vessel for any purpose other than mooring and unmooring operations.
Shore Personnel staying on board the tanker: The following persons will stay on board the tanker for the duration of the stay at the S.P .M. and the vessels are to be advised to provide accommodation and food during their stay.
| Port Pilot | 1 No. | Officer |
| Marine Master | 1 No. | Accommodation |
| Cargo Surveyor | 1 No. | |
| Hose Handling Crew | 5 No. |
Documents for vessel clearance: Given the great distance of the S.P.M. from the port and long boat ride, agents may produce photocopies of the ship's documents attested by the Port Pilot or Master of the ship, in lieu of original documents for the purpose of outward clearance.
Further clarifications, if any, may be sought from the Harbour Master (hm@cochinport.gov.in).