ASM Orals by Capt SS Chaudhari

moor is used. The vessel’s anchor and stern mooring wire rope are not only used to make a
controlled approach to the berth but also used later, to hold the vessel in gusty wind conditions.
For an average size merchant ship, a 25-30 mm mooring wire rope is passed from the after ends
on the poop, along the offshore side, outside and clear of everything. Offshore anchor is a-cock-
billed. A man is sent over side on a chair to secure the wire rope with the anchor, preferably at
the shackle. The wire rope is secured with ship's rail by sail twine in bights. The aft end of the wire
rope is sent to a wrapping barrel, ready to heave slack wire. When the stem is abreast the position
of the quay (where the bridge will be positioned), the anchor is let go. With the vessel still on
headway, and about half a ship's length of the cable, the cable is surged and then snubbed. The
wire rope is hove-in aft. The onshore wind will drift the vessel to the berth.

B
E Mooring
2
R wire
T
H 1

Baltic Moor

The scope of the cable and the wire rope is adjusted and veered slowly until the ship is alongside.
Normally, the anchor is dropped at a distance 2/3 shackles length of the cable from the quay,
which may vary depending on the prevailing circumstance.
Ship’s fenders are to be used to prevent any damage. During unberthing the anchor and the stern
mooring wire rope can be used to bodily draw the vessel off the quay. Once clear of the quay
engines and the helm can be used to clear the berth safely and get underway.

Sr. Berthing Initial When to give First Important

No. situations heading and astern engines line to precaution
distance give
1 To berth 1.5 points or Lateral distance Head Astern
on port about 20o 50m from berth line and propulsion must
side with a very little then come in time. 2
headway, so that stern line Approach speed
vessel stops to haul should not be too
15m abreast the ship fast. 50 m

in. Keep anchors 1

ready for letting
go.

2 To berth Finer angle Astern Stern If starboard

star board than for port movement is to line swing develops,
side to in side cut downthe cut it by hard port 3
calm head way half L and kick ahead.
weather. from stem Stern kick will
location. control 2
movement + 1
swing, stern line
Capt SS
is to check.
Chaudhari’s

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ASM Orals by Capt SS Chaudhari

3 To berth 90° to wharf. Just before ship Head Scope sufficient

portside Stbd anchor is parallel to line so that upon
alongside is let go quay heaving anchor
2
using when stem is does not drag.
starboard 3/4th of L The ship is
anchor in from wharf rounded with 3 1
calm and in line starboard helm,
weather. with final surging the cable
posn of the at the same time.
stern line. Head line is sent
Eng. to be on ashore to control
D.S. ahead. starboard swing.
4 Berthing Broad angle Not required Both Always stem
port or more than back current. It acts as
3
starboard 30°. Broader springs natural brake
side in angle allowed there is no risk of
current and may be overshooting the 2
as long as wharf. Rudder
turning is will be affective 1
tangent to even if no
wharf. headway.

5 Berthing Approach at ¾th from desired Head Risk of port

port side very fine stem position on line swing in 1
with head angle wharf. reducing head
wind heading the way & astern
stem position propulsion. 2
on the wharf (on shore swing
+ astern 1
movement +
head wind =
danger of rapid
onshore swing)
6 Berthing Bow to point When swung Stern Drop anchor
starboard 70° to wharf past the full line and when about ¾ L
side to length then away with
with head desired stem
offshore line position ahead,
anchor turn round
anchor with full
port helm.

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ASM Orals by Capt SS Chaudhari

Stern line to
prevent jetty side
swing when
dropping astern.
7 berthing Head for When jetty is Headline Check the swing
port side proposed closed. which with headline 3 Offshore
with wind stern point as later is and never allow wind

offshore in case of shifted an offshore

(Beam or calm forward swing. If 2
Capt SS
bow) wind conditions offshore anchor
Chaudhari’s
but greater is required it is 1
angle of let go only when
approach ship is drifted
and whether with lines
helm. secured.
8 berthing Vessel is Astern engines Both Starboard
port side rounded to is given only to breast anchor may be
with clear the cut head way line used if too much
onshore wharf with when almost headway is
beam initial angle abreast there. Too much
wind as 400. When astern engine
parallel to it may swing bows
vessel is to jetty. Anchor
stopped. will prevent it.
Let the vessel
drift bodily to
jetty.
9 berthing Approach When ½ L, give Headline Transverse
port with parallel with a starboard cant and stern thrust for astern
onshore gradual drift before reversing line. movement is
bow wind towards jetty balanced by the
lee drift.

10 berthing Head for the Anchor is let go Stern Sort of vessel

port side stem at a with sufficient line allowed to BUT
with very broad scope. Cable is with anchor tight
onshore angle kept taut. and stern coming 2
bow wind along side where
& anchor after slack chain
3 1
away to let the head in.

11 berthing Run parallel When almost Head Speed over 2

3
portside to berth till abreast give a line and ground will be
with wind 50m off. cant to port then high. In
1
astern before astern stern prolonged astern
engine. line maneuver

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ASM Orals by Capt SS Chaudhari

behavior is
unpredictable.

12 berthing Run parallel When almost Stern

starboard to berth till abreast give a line
side with 50m off. cant to port 2 3
wind before astern
astern engine.
1

13 Berthing Head 80° to Cable is slacked Head Off jetty swing is

port side wharf aiming to run forward of line controlled by
with desired mid stem and then head line. 2
anchor berth point. astern given Capt SS
away in When ¾ L Chaudhari’s 3 1
offshore from let go
bow wind starboard
anchor steer
around anchor
14 Berthing 30° to Just before Forward Bows will tend
portside desired stem reaching stem breast to swing in when 2
3
with position position line. going ahead,
offshore due quarterly
quarterly wind
1
wind

15 Berthing 30° to Astern engine Stern Don’t allow

starboard desired stem just before line excess starboard
side with position reaching desired swing 2 3
offshore stem position but
quarterly give a swing to
wind port before 1
astern.

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ASM Orals by Capt SS Chaudhari

16 Clearing a berth with tidal stream / current

from forward
The vessel is singled up to an aft back spring
and a fore breast line. When the latter is
slacked, the vessel quickly cants off the quay
as the stream catches the inshore bow. With
solid quays the inshore flow of water will
cushion the ship.

17 Clearing a berth with current from astern

The vessel is singled up to a forward back
spring and an aft breast line. The offshore
helm is used. The breast line is allowed to
grow as the current cushions the vessel.
Breast line can be let go quite soon because
even if the wharf is open and there is no
cushioning forward, there is no likelihood of
the stern fouling.

Various uses of anchor during berthing

1. Controls the ship’s advance in emergency.
2. Helps turning the ship in restricted waters with the help of tide or wind.
3. Helps turning short round with help of short engine movements and transverse thrust.
4. Controls the approach speed of bow towards jetty in onshore winds with no tugs.
5. At the time of departure, use it for pulling off from jetty.

Q58. What is Girding of a Tug?

A conventional tug, with its towing hook amidships becomes vulnerable to girding and gets
limitation wrt. maneuverability. Girding can be caused by the following: Capt SS
• Length of tug perpendicular to tug line. Chaudhari’s
• With excessive speed; with a tug made fast.

Let us look, at an example of a common situation, with a conventional tug forward on a long line.

The role of Gob Rope

The use of a gob wire moves the towing point aft, allowing the tug to be dragged astern with a
reduced risk of girting.

Q59. What is significant wave height’?

A universal convention to measure wave height
Utilising the standard international convention, the Bureau uses the concept of ‘significant wave
height’ to notify ocean-goers of the size of swell and wind waves (or ‘sea waves’) in its coastal
forecasts. Significant wave height is defined as the average wave height, from trough to crest, of
the highest one-third of the waves.

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