Mooring and Anchoring Volumes 1 and 2

Source: Maritime Journal

By I.C. Clark BSc, MSc, Master Mariner, MNI and W.Vervloesem AMNI
Published by The Nautical Institute
ISBN: Volume 1: 978-1-906915-93-4 Volume 2: 978-1-870077-941
Hardbacks, 270 pages
Price £75.00

Mooring and Anchoring Ships Volumes 1 & 2, two new publications from the Nautical Institute in the UK have just been launched at the UK Harbour Masters' Association (UKHMA) autumn seminar.

The Nautical Institute has produced the volumes for good reason. There is no single recognised qualification for mooring. Following an industry initiative supported by the International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Shipping, Mooring and Anchoring Ships were produced in two volumes as the result of years of research by the two authors.

The incidence of mooring accidents is a cause of great concern to those in the industry, both ashore and afloat. Good practice is urgently needed to prevent deaths and injuries, particularly in trades such as dry bulk and containers. In the UK crews can serve on a variety of vessels and visit ports with differing arrangements for mooring which the individual ship may not have been specifically designed for.

Port personnel face equivalent problems ashore, being presented with ever bigger vessels and the need to moor in areas which conflict with the operation of cranes and other port equipment.

Volume 1, Principles and Practice by Ian Clarke MNI, looks at the theory behind good practice and explores how shore and sea staff can avoid personal injury and breakaway incidents.

Volume 2, Inspection and Maintenance by Walter Vervloesem, looks at good practice. The volume has more than 530 useful colour photographs which show many types of pitfall. While the general principles of both volumes are a ‘must’ for any crew, MJ readers might be particularly interested in Chapter 7’s dedicated towing section.

The foreword is written by The Secretary General of the IMO, Efthimios Mitropoulos, and the book is supported by the major international associations concerned with ship operations.

The information the volumes provide is aimed to enable those in responsible positions onboard to monitor, control and carry out mooring operations safely and efficiently.