THE DANGER OF BERTHING OPERATION: A MASTER’S CONCERN

CAN THO VIETNAM

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The danger of berthing or docking operation is always a Master’s concern especially so when the jetty or port is not properly equipped with devices like fixed fenders and manpower or mooring men whose job is to assist a ship maneuvering its way to berth. Aside from this when the jetty or port is awkwardly located in an area where the depth of water is too shallow that there’s no room for ships to maneuver which was the case in Can Tho, Vietnam.
Another concern is that when the Pilot lacks the ability or competence in doing what is appropriate during berthing or docking operation. Sometimes miscommunication between the Pilot and tugboats contribute danger during berthing. This incident actually happened last June 29, 2009 in the early morning of Monday in Can Tho, Vietnam.
Marine Tanker Minorca was there to unload LPG cargo and unfortunately things gone wrong during the ship’s maneuvering. The ship’s portside bow accidentally rammed the jetty’s other side which have no fender attached to it, causing dent to the vessel’s structure and inadvertently moved the jetty’s original position as alleged by the port officials of Vietnam.
The Master blamed the Pilot for his incompetence but the port personnel said otherwise. They asked for payment for the damaged done to their jetty. It was a compromising situation but then it was business as usual and the ship’s cargo was unloaded to the jetty’s depot. Because it was the Master’s concern, he took the incident as a lesson learned.