New requirements at Mongstad

Mongstad oil terminal introduced in the early nineties escort for vessels arriving and departing the terminal. The reason was to reduce the risk of accidents which may be harmful to the environment. Today vessels are escorted by one tug connected to the stern of the vessel. The present escorting tugs have each a maximum bollard pull up to 150 tonnes. During this period of escorting vessels, Mongstad oil terminal has experienced that chocks/fairleads on board the vessels have been ripped off/parted due to weakness, also resulting in further damage to stern flagpoles, rails, stern lanterns etc. No people have so far not been hurt. Most of the vessels cannot document the SWL on their chocks/fairleads and bollards with regards to attachment to deck plating. In order to reduce and minimize the risk to human life and the environment Mongstad oil terminal will introduce a mandatory requirement that vessels need to comply with OCIMF "Recommendations for ships' fittings for use with tugs" - with Particular Reference to Escorting and Other High Load Operations - First Edition 2002 as from 01.01.2006. Kindly also note other requirements for deck fittings with reference to tug handling in the same booklet.

If vessels are not meeting said mandatory requirements from 01.01.2006, the terminal will introduce a second escort tug for those vessels, which will increase the port expenses for the operators of the vessels. Mongstad oil terminal recommends that ship operators meet above requirements as soon as possible before given date.

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Contact person at Mongstad terminal: Port Captain Jon Magne Jakobsen
tlph. +47 56344822