Quarterly March 2012 - Odfjell

8
HigHLigHTS odfjell quarterly magazine
Port captain’s role
in port efficiency
By Odd Magne Vik, Port Captain Sao Paulo, Brazil
Torger Trige, Port Captain Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Jan Harald Otterskred, Port Captain Ulsan, Korea
Jone Abotnes, Port Captain, Singapore
Odfjell has port captains in some of the
busiest ports around the world and we
strive to make all activities performed
during a port stay run as time and cost
efficient as possible.
Good communication and team work is
essential in order to optimize the port call.
Vessel, agent, operator, port operator and others
involved in the operation of the vessel have
to work together and communicate closely.
The more vessel and shore can prepare and
make ready in advance the more time can be
saved. This may include having tanks ready
on arrival, good planning of stowage, good
planning and preparation of cleaning and
slop delivery together with other vessel needs
in port. Good, proactive planning in advance
can help to prepare all those involved so that
less unexpected trouble occurs during vessel
operation, and may shorten the rotation. This
saves time and money!
Before the arrival of the vessel, the port
captain will be interested in knowing
whether the vessel’s equipment is working
and fully operational. The captain must as
soon as possible relay any information of
equipment malfunction that may effect the
ship’s efficiency in port.
The rotation in port proposed to the vessel is
based on the vessel’s operation, berth availability,
vessel’s information, tank cleaning
time and other vessels’ schedule. As a port
captain it is viable that we need to exchange
information and evaluate updates with port
and terminals daily. As the berths are always
limited by draft, the captains must communicate
best minimum draft of the ship in its
partly and fully loaded condition. The draft
estimates based on the planned rotation is
vital information for the operation in port
and we welcome captains to forward their
own optimizing suggestions.
Cleaning of cargo tanks which is a cost and
time consuming operation frequently takes
place during port stay. Consequently the
port captain will evaluate in co-operation
with the captain whether such operations
and other cargo operations may be done
safely and simultaneously. We then have
to bear in mind the accumulation of slops
on board compared to going off port limit
for cleaning purposes. The essence here is
time and fuel savings.
In ports where the vessels are calling several
berths, optimizing the rotation in port is
priority number one for the local Odfjell
Tankers people. Vessels and their operators,
will experience changes in berth sequence
and line-up of barges as a result of that. The
background is obviously that these ports
are very busy and if the next planned berth
is occupied, we would rather change the
rotation and continue operations at another
berth in the rotation in order to move on
and avoid leaving the vessel idle. However,
sometimes it is unavoidable.
If the ship’s port rotation involves multiple
cargoes and berths, it must be considered
whether to apply additional crew for
sampling, tank inspection or special cargo
handling until the ‘peak’ is passed and
operation return to normal.
Besides cargo handling, a lot of other
activities also take place in ‘our’ ports. For
example there are superintendents from
Odfjell Ship Management and external ship
management, visits by various purchase
departments, attending service people,
vetting inspections, provisions, stores and
spare parts delivery, bunkering, slop delivery
and so on. In order to make this and the
cargo operation run simultaneously and
smoothly, the flow of information between
the parties is crucial.
The port captain’s main rules are
Communication – Planning – Preparation
– Awareness – Execution – Evaluation. He is
the Odfjell representative ashore, there to
serve the captain and his ship, and to ensure
a safe and efficient port stay.
www.odfjell.com
The port captain’s main rules are Communication – Planning –
Preparation – Awareness – Execution – Evaluation
Key factors where
vessels can contribute to
an improved turn-around:
• If fresh water or rental cargo handling equipment
like hoses, booster pumps or sweeping
people, gangway people, riggers are needed,
communicate this as early as possible to the
port operator for smooth arrangements.
• Study the vapour return regulations for
the port before arrival, and make sure you
have enough vapour hoses for board/board
operations.
• Make sure stowage is as optimal as possible
keeping cleaning in port in mind and also
that ventilation of cargo tanks is increasingly
difficult in many ports. Some terminals do
not allow ventilation at all and some cargoes
are not allowed to ventilate in port.
• Start tank cleaning as soon as it is practically
possible for tanks being back loaded.
• If it is needed to go out for tank cleaning
please plan carefully with agent as we can
apply for a discount in harbour dues under
certain circumstances.
• Cooperate fully with loading masters at
every berth. They are there to help and their
main concern is safety. If cleaning is planned
please clear it with terminals before start up
to avoid being shut down.
• If possible pre inspection of cargo tank
should be made before getting alongside to
save time at the berth.
• Try to plan so that the vessel can avoid
double calls and extra shifting to outer roads.
• Reduce draft if possible. This may give more
option in the rotation.
• Bring heated cargoes to max discharge
temperature before arrival.
• Make sure inhibitor certificates are on board
in load ports before arrival.
• Make sure IBC 16.2.6 and 16.2.9 is complied
with fully before arrival.
• Tendering of Notice of Readiness; Please
liaise with agent/port operator for correct
tendering time.