TANKER EXPERIENCE TRANSFER 2014/01

EMERGENCY TOWING WIRES/FIRE WIRES

Ref: OCIMF Mooring Equipment Guidelines Sect. 3.12 and ISGOTT 26.4.4
Emergency towing wires were incorrectly rigged / secured on the bitts.

Unless the terminal specifically advises to the contrary, emergency towing-off pennants (fire wires)
should be positioned.

There are various methods for rigging emergency towing-off pennants currently in use. Some terminals
may require a particular method to be used and the ship should be advised accordingly. The most
common method you find in the picture below.

Emergency Fire wires are mooring wires hung over the off-berth side of the ship. They enable tugs to
pull the ship away from the berth without the assistance of any crew member in case of a serious fire
or explosion.

A common method is to provide two wires, one near the bow and one near the stern. They are secured
to bitts with a minimum of five turns (see attached figure for correct way of turning the wire on the
bitt) and led directly to a shipside chock with no slack on deck. The outboard end of the wire is provided
with an eye to which a heaving line is attached and led back to the deck.

During loading or discharging, the heaving line is periodically adjusted to maintain the eye of the fire
wire one to two meters above the water.