JP 4-01.5 JTTP for Water Terminal Operations - BITS

Chapter III
c. Boarding Party. Before moving or
unloading cargo, a boarding party goes
aboard to coordinate with the vessel’s
master and chief mate or first officer. The
chief mate or first officer is the expert on the
arrangement of the ship’s holds and is
responsible for ensuring that the ship loads or
discharges the maximum possible quantity of
cargo in the shortest possible period of time.
This individual is also responsible for the
calculations on vessel stability and will have
the ultimate and only valid recommendation
to the vessel’s master regarding the overall
safety to the ship of the stowage plan proposed
by the water terminal commander. During
this visit and inspection of ship and cargo, the
boarding party may decide to alter the initial
discharge plan. Normally, MSC provides a
prearrival message giving the ship’s
operational status and capacity of all lifting
gear. Unforeseen conditions, such as damage
to ship’s gear, unexpected priority cargo, or
oversized or heavy lifts not noted on advanced
stow plans may cause changes to the initial
discharge plan. The boarding party is
normally composed of the MSC
representative and the port terminal
representative. However, in more complex
operations, or when the ship calls at the port
III-4
infrequently, the boarding party may be
composed of all or a number of the following
persons or their representatives:
• Terminal Operations Officer. Determines
and reports the general condition of ship
equipment and facilities. This officer
delivers pertinent terminal regulations
and orders of the terminal commander
to the vessel master and to the
commanding officer of troops. The
terminal operations officer obtains copies
Cargo handling equipment is not part of a water terminal's infrastructure and
should be moved along with the cargo.
of ship papers when advance copies have
not been received and determines major
damage to or pilferage of cargo by having
the holds inspected before commencing
discharge. This inspection also helps to
identify any special unloading problems
that may be caused by cargo becoming
adrift in the hold and is critical when
chartered civilian shipping is used. The
terminal operations officer also obtains
other information pertinent to unloading
the vessel’s cargo.
• Customs Personnel. These representatives
check for clearances, narcotics, weapons,
and other potential contraband cargo.
They also may perform other necessary
Joint Pub 4-01.5