5 Developing Procedures
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1255 – Guidelines for Owners/Operators on Preparing Emergency Towing Procedures – (27 May 2008) - Annex – Guidelines for Owners/Operators on Preparing Emergency Towing Procedures - 5 Developing Procedures

5 Developing Procedures

  5.1 Ship-specific procedures should be identified during the ship’s evaluation and entered accordingly in the ETB. The procedures should include, as a minimum, the following:

  • .1 a quick-reference decision matrix that summarizes options under various emergency scenarios, such as weather conditions (mild, severe), availability of shipboard power (propulsion, on-deck power), imminent danger of grounding, etc.;

  • .2 organization of deck crew (personnel distribution, equipment distribution, including radios, safety equipment, etc.);

  • .3 organization of tasks (what needs to be done, how it should be done, what is needed for each task, etc.);

  • .4 diagrams for assembling and rigging bridles, tow lines, etc., showing possible emergency towing arrangements for both fore and aft. Rigged lines should be lead such that they avoid sharp corners, edges and other points of stress concentration;

  • .5 power shortages and dead ship situations, which must be taken into account, especially for the heaving across of heavy towing lines;

  • .6 a communications plan for contacting the salvage/towing ship . This plan should list all information that the ship’s master needs to communicate to the salvage/towing ship. This list should include but not be limited to:

    • .1 damage or seaworthiness;

    • .2 status of ship steering;

    • .3 propulsion;

    • .4 on deck power systems;

    • .5 on-board towing equipment;

    • .6 existing emergency rapid disconnection system;

    • .7 forward and aft towing point locations;

    • .8 equipment, connection points, strong points and safe working loads (SWL);

    • .9 towing equipment dimensions and capacities; and

    • .10 ship particulars;

  • .7 evaluation of existing equipment, tools and arrangements on board the ship for possible use in rigging a towing bridle and securing a towline;

  • .8 identification of any minor tools or equipment providing significant improvements to the “towability” of the ship;

  • .9 inventory and location of equipment on board that can be used during an emergency towing situation;

  • .10 other preparations (locking rudder and propeller shaft, ballast and trim, etc.); and

  • .11 other relevant information (limiting sea states, towing speeds, etc.).

Parent topic: Annex – Guidelines for Owners/Operators on Preparing Emergency Towing Procedures
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