VTS: Information Requirements

Estimated time of arrival

Vessels bound for Sullom Voe are required to provide the Harbour Authority with the following information:

  1. An estimated time of arrival (ETA) 24 hours before arrival or on leaving the last port (whichever is later).

NB. All vessels are monitored by Sullom Voe VTS to ensure they do not enter Area to be Avoided.

General Information

First time callers:

  1. To optimise mooring arrangements should fax to Agent diagrams of the ship's fo'c'sle and poop showing positions of the winchs, bitts and fairleads.
  2. Have the ship's GA plan available for copying after arrival, together with certificates for mooring ropes, rope tails and winch brake holding capacities (These will be used for mooring analysis).

LPG ships:

  1. Ships will normally berth starboard side to. In this case shore cargo connections from forward are 12 inch, 12 inch, 8 inch. Loading arms can be used for liquid or vapour service in any combination.
  2. The manifold working platform must comply with the following criteria: If the platform is more than 2 metres above deck level a fixed safety rail must be in place during the connection of the loading arms. There must be circa 3 metres clear working space between the manifold flange and rail to allow a safe connect-up operation.

Pilot Boarding Arrangements

All vessels calling at Sullom Voe must comply with "The Merchant Shipping (Pilot Transfer Arrangements) Regulations 1999" (S.I. 1999 No. 17).

Where vessels with freeboard in excess of 18 metres are unable to secure the gangway to the ship's side by means of a cleat or a sucker pad then boarding of the Pilot may be carried out by helicopter.

Pre-arrival information

Pre-arrival information should be provided to Sullom Voe VTS 24 hours before estimated time of arrival.

24 hours prior to arrival all vessels should e-mail, fax or telex Sullom Voe VTS with the following information:

1. Ship’s name, callsign and MMSI.

2. Port of Registry.

3. Name of Master.

4. Gross tonnage (G.T.).

5. Summer deadweight (metric tonnes).

6. Length overall and moulded depth (in metres).

7. Draught fore and aft.

8. Maximum departure draught.

9. Bunkers/fresh water/stores quantity.

10. Whether loaded or in ballast. If loaded, nature and quantity of cargo.

11. Whether vessel is carrying segregated ballast.

12. If so, quantity and at which port it was taken on board.

13. Dirty ballast quantity.

14. Berthing deadweight as a percentage of the summer DWT (minimum acceptable 35%).

15. The pilot station identified for arrival.

16. Pilot boarding arrangements.

17. Vessels with freeboard in excess of 18 metres are instructed to confirm whether the accommodation ladder can be secured to the ship's side by means of a cleat or sucker pad to prevent excessive movement of the lower end of the accommodation ladder in adverse swell conditions.

18. Number of crew.

19. Last port of call.

20. Berthing displacement (tonnes).

21. P & I Club name.

22. Previous cargo type.

23. Is all navigation, safety, anchoring and mooring equipment fully operational and ready for use? If not, specify. All anchors to be cleared away on arrival at the Pilot Station.

24. SWL of after towing bitts and fairlead (for connecting escort tug).

25. Whether the vessel complies with the ‘Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2004’ (EC Directive 2002/59/EEC).

26. Confirm the engines will be tested to come astern before the pilot comes aboard.

27. Vessel’s inmarsat number and telex number.

28. Confirm whether vessel arriving from east or west of Shetland.

29. Confirm that all segregated ballast tanks will be accessible for sampling by Terminal’s staff on arrival.

30. Confirm that there is a valid Safety Management Certificate onboard.

31. Confirm that there is a copy of a valid Document of Compliance onboard.

32. Confirm there is a valid International Ship Security Certificate(ISSC) on board.

33. Confirm ship's security level.

For Crude Oil Tankers

34. Confirm whether ship has a fully operational inert gas system and whether all cargo/ dirty ballast tanks are under positive pressure and inerted to a maximum of 8% oxygen content.

35. Confirm that tanks to be vented to atmosphere have gasses less than 5ppm hydrogen sulphide.

36. Confirm vessel has a fully operational closed loading and tank gauging system.

37. (OBOs only) Confirm vessel's last two cargoes prior to arrival at Sullom Voe have been wet cargoes.

For Gas Tankers

38. Confirm vessel has a valid IMO Certificate for cargo equipment.

39. Confirm the inert gas plant is fully operational.

40. Confirm compressors and reliquification plant are fully operational.

NB A vapour return line is fitted for emergency use only. The Terminal does not receive vapours back to shore.

41. Confirm cargo alarm system is fully operational.

42. The valve closing time for emergency shut down should not exceed 30 seconds. Confirm valve closing time.

43. Confirm the vessel can present suitable 150/300 ASA manifold presentation flanges. (Terminal has two 12 inch and one 8 inch connection for liquid or vapour service). Reducers are not supplied.

44. Advise manifold configuration from forward (e.g. L-V-V-L).

Reporting requirements

All vessels are required to report to Sullom Voe VTS when passing the following positions:

On departure

Prior to sailing from Sullom Voe all vessels are requested by the Harbour Authority to indicate whether eastbound or westbound from pilot station.

 

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