Average in Practice

VHT 

Training Camp (1) 

Bremen-Vegesack 

Schulschiff Deutschland 

21.09.2007 

Average in Practice / 

Seamanship 

� buoyancy < weight 

� difference = Ground reaction 

Capt. P. Zahalka

Average in Practice 

Grounding / Salvage

A helpful questionaire if grounding is the 

problem: 

problem

A helpful questionaire if grounding is 

the problem

A helpful questionaire if grounding is 

the problem 

� The questionaire is 

available for downloading 

on our website: 

� vht-online.de


The first and most important measures on board 

after an accident (grounding) 

�� Recording the time, position, position, 

course and speed; speed 

�� Checking the condition of the ship; ship 

�� Checking all tanks and cargo holds for water penetration by 

sounding; sounding 

�� Determining the drafts immediately after grounding; grounding 

�� Determining the water depth around the ship by sounding; sounding 

�� Determining the time and the status of the tide at the time of 

the sounding. sounding


�� If, If, 

after careful consideration, 

consideration, 

the condition of the 

ship and each of the prevailing circumstances permit, permit, 

an early attempt to refloat the vessel can be 

undertaken. 

undertaken. 

This can be attempted by implementing 

the ship‘s main engine as well as every other means 

available on the ship, ship, 

such as e.g. e.g. 

shifting fuel and 

ballast water or discharging ballast water. water. 

To this 

regard, regard, 

one must pay particular attention to the 

longitudinal strength and the stability of the ship. ship.


�� Should such a refloating attempt not appear to be 

feasible or, or, 

indeed, indeed, 

fail, fail, 

then outside help is necessary; necessary; 

�� Check to see whether local assistance is possible or 

availabe; availabe; 

�� Inform the ship owner and give him all details 

available; available; 

�� Keep in contact with the local authorities concerning 

the current conditions (coast coast guard, guard, 

ship‘s agent, agent, 

etc.); 

�� The ship owner will inform the hull and machinery 

insurer, insurer, 

and, respectively, 

respectively, 

the VHT.


�� The ship owner together with the hull and 

machinery insurer (represented 

represented by the VHT) will 

analyse the situation and organise the necessary 

help; help 

�� Should no outside help be immediately available, available, 

monitored flooding of tanks can help to keep the 

ship at ease in order to avoid any further damage 

from swells, swells, 

tides, tides, 

etc. In regard to such measures, measures, 

please keep in mind that a ship‘s structural 

members underlie extreme stress.


�� If circumstances permit, permit, 

no outside assistance or any 

type of contracts should be accepted, accepted, 

and, 

respectively, 

respectively, 

signed, signed, 

either verbally or in written 

form, without the agreement of the ship owner. owner 

�� In most cases today, today, 

the arrangements required are 

made on shore; shore 

�� The ship owner and/or and/ or the hull and machinery 

insurer (represented 

represented by the VHT) will keep the ship 

informed about each step that is taken. 

taken


�� Should it come to a salvage operation, operation, 

it is important 

to make proper records of one‘s own activities and 

those of other parties; parties; 

�� As soon as it is possible, possible, 

an owner‘s representative 

and a representative of the VHT will provide on site 

assistance. 

assistance


�� In the case of an emergency and immediate danger 

for the crew and the ship, ship, 

safety takes absolute 

priority, priority, 

and the ship‘s captain is required to execute 

any measures available under the prevailing 

circumstances. 

circumstances 

�� If the measures taken are reasonable, reasonable, 

no one will hold 

the captain responsible for potential consequences. 

consequences

Types of contracts: contracts 


(please please see Capt. Capt. 

Grübler‘s talk) talk 

LOF 2000 

Underlying principle = No cure – No pay 

Arbitration in London or Germany 

SCOPIC (Special Compensation P and I Clause) 

alternatively: 

alternatively 

Commercial Salvage Contracts 

Towhire (Daily Hire) Hire 

Towcon (Lumpsun Lumpsun)


�� Once the ship has reached a safe harbour, harbour, 

either 

within the context of a salvage contract or a 

commercial contract, contract, 

the insurer may begin the 

�� 

research into the cause of the accident. accident 

In addition to other interested parties such as P & I, 

cargo, cargo, 

and the authorities, authorities, 

the hull and machinery 

(VHT) will send its own representatives and, with a 

high degree of probability, 

probability, 

lawyers to examine the 

circumstances, 

circumstances, 

which led up to the accident. 

accident

�� Detailed statements are taken 

from the relevant crew 

members, members, 

and appropriate 

documents are collected as 

evidence. evidence 

�� These statements are documents 

of paramount inportance and 

authenticity. 

authenticity. 

They provide the 

basis for the defence in later 

disputes. disputes 

�� It is of utmost importance that 

they reflect the true sequence of 

events and measures taken. taken. 


I shall tell the truth 

and nothing but 

the truth !!

Don‘t forget: forget 


�� Especially in cases in which there is an 

underlying salvage contract, contract, 

it is important to 

take detailed notes and pictures of the 

salvor‘s activities and those of the ship‘s own 

crew. crew. 

�� A salvor, owing to the nature of his business, business, 

tends to dramatise the dangers which the ship 

and its crew were facing. facing. 

The same applies to 

the assistance he provided. provided.


�� Good, reliable and detailed statements from the 

ship‘s side help the VHT and later the arbitrator to 

paint a realistic picture of the actual events. events. 

�� Good, reliable and detailed statements from the 

ship‘s side help to keep the salvage award within 

acceptable limits. 

�� Don‘t forget: forget: 

it is indeed the insurer who pays the 

piper – but, but, 

in the end, it is the owner‘s money; money; 

then, then, 

he is the one who pays the insurance premiums. premiums.

Ground Reaction 

How many tonnes of buoyancy have been lost ??


� buoyancy – weight = 0 

� buoyancy < weight 

� difference = 

Ground reaction

Ground Reaction

Ground Reaction


This spread sheet is available to the public on the VHT website 

(www.vht-online.de)


This spread sheet is available to the public on the VHT website 

(www.vht-online.de)


influential factors


influential factors


influential factors 

4 

2 

3 

1

� What is a Bollard pull ?? 

� Dependencies / context 

Bollard Pull

� The Bollard pull test 

� Static Bollard Pull 

� Continuous Bollard Pull 

Bollard Pull

� The certificate 

Bollard Pull

� Why is the measured and 

certified bollard pull not 

available in its entirety in 

practice ? 

Bollard Pull

Bollard Pull 

� The assessment of the 

bollard pull necessary for 

the job

Bollard Pull 

� The VHT solution !

Bollard Pull 

� How do the classification 

societies e.g. the 

Germanische Lloyd handle 

this subject ?

Towage by vessels not classified as a tug 

(Container vessels, vessels, 

Bulker, Bulker, 

Tanker, etc.) 

Ship / Ship Towage 

�� Ship / ship towage should only be undertaken in 

emergencies where dangers are imminent and no tug(s) tug(s) 

can 

be made available in a timely manner. manner 

�� Ships are neither built nor equipped for ocean towage. towage 

�� Crews onboard freighters are not experienced in towage. towage 

�� If, If, 

in an emergency such an operation is undertaken good 

seamanship and durable equipment is in demand (which which 

might not be available). 

available). 

�� A towing connection requiered under such circumstances 

could look as follows: 

follows




Tanker, etc.) 

Led forward and secured 

Tow hawser 

Wire bridle of sufficient 

strength 

Pear shaped shackle 

Anchor cable (2-3 shackles), 

Anchor shackle, etc. 

provides for necessary catenary of towing 

connection 

Anchor cable secured by 

stoppers, etc.




Tanker, etc.) 

�� In most of the cases proper towing equipment will not be 

available. available 

�� Ships today do not carry any longer a so called „insurance insurance 

wire“ wire“ 

on board. board 

�� Standard mooring ropes (polypropylene 

polypropylene) ) with a breaking 

load of say 40 t (when ( when new) new) 

will surely snap under stress 

and peakloads. 

peakloads 

�� There will be no catenary of the tow-line tow line.




Tanker, etc.) 

Further there are contractual matters to be carefully observed. observed 

1. If 

1. If 

If both ships are in the same ownership – notify your H & 

M underwriter and if he agrees both vessels will be 

covered according to the terms of the policy. policy 

If the towing ship is not in the same ownership, 

ownership, 

matters 

start to get complicated liabilitywise. liabilitywise. 

A contract such as 

the BIMCO Towhire should be signed between the parties, parties, 

incorporating a „no claim for salvage clause“, clause“, 

further such 

a contract contains a „knock „ knock for knock“ knock“ 

clause in respect 

of liabilities, liabilities, 

in general each party remains liable for its 

own property. 

property




Tanker, etc.) 

�� Such a procedure should be regarded as an emergency 

operation only for the purpose of avoiding disastrous 

damage such as grounding, grounding, 

etc. 

�� The success of such an operation is highly depending on the 

skills of the crews of both vessels, vessels, 

the equipment used, used, 

and 

certainly on the weather. weather 

�� A proper tug should be employed asap.

THE END

Average in Practice - VHT

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Average in Practice - VHT

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

Delete template?

Save as template ?