New OCIMF guidelines on Mooring System Management Plans

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has introduced new guidelines for the safe mooring of tankers and gas carriers at terminals. A Mooring System Management Plan (MSMP) is part of the requirements to ensure risks are managed through the safe design and operation of mooring systems. Learn more about the MSMP in this technical news.

Relevant for owners and managers of gas carrier, chemical tankers or oil tankers.

Incidents of mooring lines breaking in port has led to numerous fatalities throughout the years – and many more accidents – and mooring continues to be a high-risk operation. Against this backdrop, the OCIMF is now introducing new best practices for safe mooring at terminals: Mooring Equipment Guidelines Edition 4, MEG4, OCIMF, 2018. 

We have received several requests for support and we see the need to share some news on this topic. 

What is the MSMP? 

The MSMP should contain the following: 

  • Part A – General ship particulars 
  • Part B – Mooring equipment design philosophy 
  • Part C – Detailed list of mooring equipment 
  • Part D – Inspection, maintenance and retirement strategies
  • Part E – Risk and change management, safety of personnel, and human factors
  • Part F – Records and documentation
  • Part G – Mooring System Management Plan Register (MSMPR) 

The MSMP should be kept on board at all time, and should be available for vetting inspection. 

Impact on operation of tankers and gas carriers 

All new ships should comply with the MSMP requirements. Existing ships should undertake the necessary due diligence to collect the required information and align their operating procedures with the safe mooring principles, as far as practicable. If the vessels’ management of mooring lines is not as per the policy and/or as outlined in the Line Management Plan (LMP), an observation will be recorded by the vetting company. Please refer to the updated SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ7), Ship Inspection Report, OCIMF, 17 September 2018. 

MSMP is an OCIMF and not a class guideline or requirement 

However, there may be cases where the new OCIMF guideline will require a breaking load of mooring lines exceeding what is or has been guided by class according to exisiting requirements. Should this be the case, we recommend that you discuss with class on how this may be handled. 

DNV GL can assist owners and managers in establishing a mooring equipment design philosophy, performing mooring force calculations, optimizing mooring arrangements, determining the necessary number and strength of mooring lines, and preparing the MSMP based on the MEG4 guidelines. : 

Recommendations 

DNV GL recommends to implement the OCIMF guidelines on MSMP as soon as possible. The MSPM will be subject to vetting control.
 

References

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