Step 2 of 3•4 minutes read
SOLAS and IMO Requirements
SOLAS 1974 Chapter 2, regulation 3.4 requires all tankers of 20,000 tonnes deadweight and above, including oil, chemical and gas tankers, to be provided with an emergency towing arrangement at both ends of the ship. This requirement has been in force since 1st January 1996 for new vessels built after that date.
Emergency Towing Booklet
The booklet will include the following:
- Drawings of the fore and aft decks showing possible emergency towing arrangements,
- The inventory of equipment provided onboard for emergency towing,
- Means and methods of communication, and
- Procedures for conducting an emergency towing operation.
A minimum of three copies of the Emergency Towing Booklet should be kept onboard, and these should be located at the forecastle, one inside the cargo control room/ship’s office and one on the bridge.
As stated before, it is of utmost importance for all crew members to be familiar with the emergency towing booklet and its contents to ensure preparedness in the case of an emergency.
Photo: Jörgen Språng
IMO Guidelines
The IMO’s guidelines MSC 35 (63), adopted on 20th May 1994, require an emergency towing arrangement to be fitted to the forward and aft end of the tanker. The aft arrangement must be possible to rig in 15 minutes under harbour conditions, while the forward one has a permitted deployment time of 60 minutes. The arrangements must be kept simple, as the equipment may have to be employed in bad weather and complete darkness if the vessel is powerless.