Mooring System Management Plan (MSMP)

 The management of mooring operations is a key aspect of the management of ships and ensuring the safety of seafarers. The fourth edition of the Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4) issued by OCIMF recognises this and outlines many of the related requirements. This is further reinforced with references to the various planning procedures in the seventh edition of the Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ7).

INTERTANKO has issued new guidance which covers the implementation of the Standard “Mooring System Management Plan (MSMP)”, the “Mooring System Management Plan Register (MSMPR)” which is a subset of the MSMP and the “Line Management Plan (LMP)”.  This guidance is developed to help Members comply with MEG4 and to address the questions in VIQ7.

These plans are new tools to assist Members with managing equipment and lines from design to retirement. MEG4 states that the plans should remain on the ship throughout its life as part of the management of change records to ensure that documents and records are not lost and it is recommended that all information relevant to the mooring of the ship is considered together as a complete system. The plans should also include a record of any changes that have occurred to the mooring equipment and arrangements since the vessel was built

Mooring System Management Plan: The MSMP should be written to ensure the mooring system is inspected, maintained and operated in accordance with the original design basis. The information contained should be available to anyone who needs to review it. The MSMP is to be ship specific and complement the ship’s safety management system. Through a ‘goal-based’ approach, core elements of the mooring system are identified against which high level ‘goals’ are established supported by more detailed ‘functional requirements’. A register of the mooring system components is maintained for the ship’s life in an accompanying Mooring System Management Plan Register.

The MSMP should contain the following:

Part A – General ship particulars

Part B – Mooring equipment design philosophy

Part C – Detailed list of mooring equipment

Part D – Inspection, maintenance and retirement strategies

Part E – Risk and change management, safety of personnel, and human factors

Part F – Records and documentation

Part G – Mooring System Management Plan Register (MSMPR)

Line Management Plan: Contained within section 5.4.2 of Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4) is a description of the Line Management Plan (LMP). The LMP is specific to an operator, ship type, and trade route; however, MEG4 gives general guidance on establishing a LMP. The LMP should contain all the requirements for how the lines are maintained, inspected and retired and each of these parts should be detailed in the plan. For example, in the maintenance section it should detail the installation, storage, repair, maintenance and wear and tear, while at every stage referencing any