MaritimeBlog. Master’s Page
Safe Port Umm Qasr. 11 days aground.
This story happened more than a year ago, so there is a fair chance that things at Umm Qasr are better now in October 2010, when I publish this article, then they were in May of 2009. Anyway, my goal is not to discuss or grudge someone’s fault but to show all events as I saw them that time, describe my actions and results achieved, but let you make your own analysis of situation and come to your own conclusions, which if you like you can share with me and other readers of these pages.
Product tanker under my command was of 35,800mts summer deadweight and she was ordered to load 16,565mts of gasoil in Ruwais, UAE, for draft of 6.85m EK in BW Umm Qasr. Draft of 6.85m was our draft with full immersion of propeller, such draft was less than normal ballast draft and min operational draft.
Vessel was on time-charter to one prominent tanker operator (acting as disponent owners) and further sub-chartered for this voyage.
From disponent owners side I was provided with the tide table at Umm Qasr (see below) together with loading/discharging orders.
Vessel was expected to discharge her cargo during 10-11 days, with ETA 04 May 2009. From table it was evident that at some time vessel has to leave berth because vessel should not have enough water for our min/max draft of 6.85m. Continue…
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