201320 Hazards of improperly moored bunker vessels

In some ports and terminals, bunker supply barges tend to moor on the sea side of ships with a considerable length of their hull overhanging the stern of receiving vessels. Such a practice shows poor seamanship and is hazardous for both the barge and the vessel moored at or manoeuvring off the next berth. Often, an incoming vessel under pilotage is put in great difficulty when, on approaching the berth astern, she finds the quay length has been effectively reduced by the protruding hull of the barge. The legal implications of a collision between the offending barge and a vessel attempting to berth / unberth under such circumstances and a consequent oil spill can be serious not only for the vessels involved, but can even potentially implicate the port or terminal for negligence.

‘Inconvenient’ locations of the manifolds on the supplying or receiving vessels should be remedied by joining additional hose lengths instead of inconsiderate positioning of the barge.