Discharging Operations

Where the load or discharge operation involves, or may involve, lightering there needs to be a clear understanding as to who will pay for and be liable for the lightering. There are certain areas of the world, for example the shallow waters off Bangladesh, where a deep sea ship may have to discharge her entire cargo, or some of her cargo, due to draft restrictions alongside.

The fact that the operations are likely to be in open waters means that poor weather conditions will have a detrimental effect on the speed and efficiency of the operation.

Lighterage may take place with other ships or lighters or barges (that is not fitted with their own power and will require a tug to move them), the likelihood being that the deep sea ship and the other vessels will be different sizes bringing with it operational risks to the safety of the cargo and indeed the vessels themselves.

There will be the logistical problem of how many vessels will be available and how many trips will be needed to complete the operation. Under circumstances that time is lost it is important to ensure it is clear how laytime be calculated.

An important difference between the tanker and dry cargo vessels’ cargo operations is that all tankers are loaded utilising shore pumps, thus this is charterers responsibility. Whereas tankers are designed to discharge their own cargoes, using ships pumps in 24 hours, thus this is owners responsibility, if the vessel is allowed to use her full pump and pipeline capability.

Thus typically a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) of, say, 310,OOOmt deadweight will be fitted with 3 cargo pumps and pipeline systems, so that if all three are fully utilised the vessel will complete discharge in 24 hours.

A smaller tanker will be fitted with smaller pumps and pipelines in order to achieve the 24 hour discharge requirement. However at some discharge terminals where, perhaps, only 1 pipeline is available the tanker will not be able to discharge the entire cargo in 24 hours.