LNG Operations

INFORMATION on KOCHI LNG TERMINAL (PETRONET LNG LIMITED) OPERATIONS
at COCHIN PORT

The Kochi LNG Terminal Jetty and trestle is situated in the western reaches of the port area and is designed to receive LNG Tankers from 65,000 to 216,000 m3 (Q-Flex LNG tankers) with provisions for expansion up to 260,000 m3 (Q-Max LNG tankers).

LNG Berth Parameters

VESSEL/BERTH CRITERIA

BERTH LIMITATIONS

Maximum Vessel length overall

320 M

Maximum Allowable Draught alongside

12.5M

Maximum Beam

50.0 M

Maximum Vessel displacement on Arrival

150500 MT

Maximum Cubic Capacity (LNG)

2,16000 m3

Jetty Alignment

0630 - 2430

Acceptability of vessels: Terminal has a standard LNG Ship approval and acceptance procedure. The procedure is detailed in the Terminal document "LNG Ship Approval Procedure". Only those Ships which successful undergo the procedure detailed in the above document will be cleared by PLL to unload their LNG cargo at the Kochi LNG Terminal.

Anchorage : LNG Tankers calling for discharge should anchor inside the designated anchorage area in the vicinity of the Fairway Buoy. Same shall be allotted on arrival by "Cochin Port Control"

Pilot Boarding : Pilots board ships in the vicinity of the Fairway Buoy. Pilots will board from a tug boat on the lee side by accommodation ladder. Height of ladder shall be confirmed once vessel is within VHF communication range. Ships are to keep both gangways swung out and ready to be lowered.

Pilotage : On boarding the vessel, the Pilot shall discuss the Pilotage and Berthing / Unberthing Plan with the Master. The Pilot and the Master of the vessel will sign the Passage Plan for Inbound or Outbound Passage before the vessel approaches or leaves the berth.

Communications : Cochin Port Control works on V.H.F. Channel 15 and watches channels 16 & 15.Kochi LNG terminal also monitors both the channels and works on Channel 12.

Northern Spur Bund Light A light is established on the  bund to the west of the jetty. Day mark: west cardinal, yellow with black band with top mark - two black cones; Ht. 5.5m at msl Characteristics: Q fl. (9) 15sec, 5 nm

 Jetty Warning Lights Jetty warning lights are established on MD 1 and MD 7 on fixed steel poles, painted with yellow & black horizontal bands. Ht. 8m at msl. Characteristics: Fl. ev. 8 sec, 5 nm

Mooring Arrangements : The normal mooring pattern at the terminal is 3-3-3 (3 headlines / stern lines, 3 breast lines and 3 springs) forward and aft from the ship; however the Master should not hesitate to increase the number of mooring lines, if he considers it is prudent to do so. Vessel specific mooring plan shall be finalised based on the mooring analysis during compatibility study.

Arm Connections : The Terminal is fitted with 3 LNG Unloading Arms and 1 vapour Arm. The arms are named from East to West as: Arm "A" (Liquid), Arm "V" (Vapour), Arm "B" (Liquid), and Arm "C" (Liquid).

Nominal diameter: 16 inches Flange standard: ANSI 150 FF

QC/DC: A "Chiksan III Cryo" hydraulically operated Quick connect/disconnect coupling (QC/DC) is installed on each arm.

Emergency Release System: Each arm is equipped with a Powered Emergency Release Coupler (PERC) installed between two ball valves. The equipment allows a quick disconnection without draining of the arms first.

Tug Movement : Maximum four tugs of following bollard pull are utilized for the operations, depending upon the size of LNG vessels.

 45  to 50 T  - 2 numbers  &  60 T - 2 numbers

PS: All the vessels calling Kochi LNG terminal shall be provided with detail terminal information manual during pre fixture stage.

Further clarifications, if any, may be sought from the Harbour Master (hm[at]cochinport[dot]gov[dot]in) or Petronet LNG Ltd. (shipping[at]petronetlng[dot]com).

Last updated :: 22/08/2019, -15:36
SPM Operations

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).

 

Last updated :: 30/10/2018, -16:56