Emergency Contingency Procedures
ECP
Emergency at Berth and Nearby Vessels 		Doc No.: ECP 05-18
Revision: 01
Date: 15 Oct 2024
Issued by: DPA
Approved by: MD

5.18 Emergency at Berth and Nearby Vessels

5.18.1 Emergency/ Fire in Nearby Berth or Ship

(a) On hearing the terminal alarm being sounded, or on being otherwise advised of an emergency at the terminal, a ship which is not involved in the emergency should be prepared for the situation to worsen.

(b) It may become necessary to shut down all cargo, bunkering and ballasting operations, withdraw personnel from the open deck, bring firefighting capability to a state of readiness, and make engines, steering gear and unmooring equipment ready for immediate use. Contingency evacuation should be considered. Below points to be taken into consideration:

  1. Inform the Master
  2. Request information from Shore personnel and act in accordance with instructions.
  3. Inform engine room to urgently prepare the engines for maneuvering
  4. Prohibit smoking and use of naked lights throughout the ship
  5. Call crew for mooring stations, if necessary, crew to carry EEBD
  6. Prepare firefighting equipment, if necessary, crew to carry EEBD
  7. Prepare pilot ladder on the offshore side
  8. Prepare for unmooring
  9. Record all events in the logbook
  10. Report as per requirements

5.18.2 Emergency Removal from Berth

(a) If an emergency that cannot be controlled occurs on a vessel at a terminal, it may be necessary to consider removal from the berth. Planning for such an eventuality will require consultation between a representative of the port authority or harbor master, the responsible terminal official, the Master of the vessel, and the senior local authority fire officer.

(b) The plan should avoid hasty action which might increase rather than reduce the danger to personnel, the vessel, the terminal, other ships berthed nearby, and adjacent installations. By the time it is necessary to remove a vessel which is on fire, the circumstances may be such that the ship's crew is unable to assist.

(c) The decision whether to remove a vessel under controlled conditions or to retain it at the berth should, in the first instance, be based on the safety of life. Below points to be taken into consideration:

  1. Follow instructions from Shore personnel.
  2. Standby crew for disconnection of loading arms, hoses (tankers)
  3. Inform engine room to urgently prepare the engines for maneuvering
  4. Prohibit smoking and use of naked lights throughout the ship
  5. Call crew for mooring stations, if necessary, crew to carry EEBD
  6. Prepare emergency towing arrangements
  7. Prepare firefighting equipment, if necessary, crew to carry EEBD
  8. Prepare pilot ladder on the offshore side
  9. Prepare for unmooring
  10. Record all events in the logbook
  11. Report as per requirements

5.18.3 Toxic Gases/Liquid Release at Terminal/Nearby Vessel

(a) On toxic gases/liquid release at terminal or a nearby vessel, a ship which is not involved in the emergency should be prepared for the situation to worsen. It may become necessary to shut down all cargo, bunkering and ballasting operations, withdraw personnel from the open deck, make engines, steering gear, and unmooring equipment ready for immediate use.

(b) Contingency evacuation should be considered. Below points to be taken into consideration:

  1. Raise the internal and external alarm by sounding the signal agreed with terminal
  2. Stop any cargo, bunkering or ballasting operation
  3. Activate response team with full protective clothing, approach from the windward side
  4. Evacuate all personnel from vicinity
  5. All doors, openings, and tank apertures should be closed, and mechanical ventilation should be stopped
  6. Crew to muster with EEBD.
  7. The main engines and steering gear should be brought to a standby condition
  8. Keep firefighting equipment ready.
  9. Keep antidotes (Chemical Tankers) and resuscitator ready
  10. Make preparation for disconnecting the metal arms or hoses from the manifold on tankers
  11. Inform Coastal State Authorities if appropriate
  12. Comply with reporting procedures
  13. Compile “Initial notification”
  14. Record all events in the logbook