SHIP ТО SHIP TRANSFER GUIDE (PETROLEUM)
(Third Edition 1997)
For Use with Crude
Oil and Petroleum Products
Glossary
Within this
guide, the terms below have the following meanings:
AT SEA
The term «at
sea» is used throughout this guide. It is intended to indicate offshore waters
or partially sheltered waters. It may be, however, that an STS transfer
operation «at sea» is to be conducted within the jurisdiction of a local (port)
authority or national government. In such cases reference has to be made to
local regulations and it may also be necessary to obtain local approval.
BALLAST
The term
«ballast» covers water ballast carried in ship's tanks.
DISCHARGING SHIP
The
ship containing cargo for transfer to the receiving ship. The
discharging ship may also be known as the Ship to be Lightened (STBL).
ORGANISERS
Organisers
are shore-based operators responsible for arranging an STS transfer operation. The
Organiser may be an STS agency.
PERSON IN OVERALL ADVISORY CONTROL
The person
agreed to be in overall control of an STS operation. It may be one of the
masters (generally the master of the manoeuvring
ship) or it may be an STS superintendent.
PRIMARY FENDERS
Primary
fenders are large fenders used to absorb the impact energy of berthing and wide
enough to prevent contact between the ships should they roll while alongside
one another.
RECIVINGSHIP
The
ship to which cargo is transferred from the discharging ship.
(The receiving ship may also be known as the lightening ship, or the service
ship.)
SECONDARY FENDERS
Secondary
fenders are fenders used to prevent contact between the two ships, should they
be rolling or not parallel to each other. They are especially effective when
rigged towards the ends of a ship and are of most benefit during mooring and
unmooring operations.
SHIP
Throughout
this guide the word ship refers to an oil tanker.
SHIPOWNER
Includes
owner, manager or operator having day-to-day commercial and/or operational
control of the vessel.
SHIP-TO-SHIP (STS) TRANSFER OPERATION
An STS
transfer operation is an operation where crude oil or petroleum products are
transferred between seagoing ships moored alongside each other. Such operations
may take place when one ship is at anchor or when both are underway. In
general, the expression includes the approach manoeuvre,
berthing, mooring, hose connecting, safe procedures for cargo transfer, hose
disconnecting and unmooring.
STS AGENCY
An STS
agency is an organisation which specialises
in providing services for the safe control of STS operations. The agency may
also supply the essential personnel and equipment needed such as hoses, fenders
and support craft.
STS SUPERINTENDENT
A
person who may be designated to assist a ship's master in the mooring and
unmooring of the ships, and to co-ordinate and supervise the entire
ship-to-ship operation. (He may also be known as lightering
master or mooring master.)
TRANSFER AREA
A transfer
area is an area within which an STS transfer operation takes place.
Transfer
areas should be selected in safe sea areas (see Section 2.3). In coastal areas
they will be agreed with nearby coastal authorities and, as appropriate, in
accordance with specific port or national regulations.
TRANSFER AT ANCHOR
The
expression «transfer at anchor» describes a situation where a cargo transfer is
carried out between ships when they are moored alongside each other and one of
the ships is at anchor. The operation is an alternative to underway transfer.
UNDERWAY
By
definition under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,
a ship when underway is not at anchor, made fast to the shore or aground. However,
she may be either steaming or drifting freely with current and weather.
References
1. Mooring
Equipment Guidelines (OCIMF)
2. International
Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT) (ICS/OCIMF/IAPH)
3. International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IMO)
4. Standard
Marine Communication Phrases (IMO)
5.
Recommendations for Oil Tanker Manifolds and Associated Equipment
(OCIMF)
6. Guide to
Helicopter/Ship Operations (ICS)
7. International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(1995) and STCW Code (IMO)
8. Guidelines
for the Handling, Storage, Inspection and Testing of Hoses in the Field (OCIMF)