1. Explain the expressions in bold, using English equivalents. Answer the questions.

1. What type of vessel is this?

2. How did she berth?

3. Why was discharging operation delayed?

4. What does “even keel” mean?

5. What is underkeel clearance?

6. Explain the terms “high water tide” and “low water”.

7. What is draft?

8. Maximum permissible draft means…

9. What information should be included in Certificate of Compliance?

10. Give explanation to “soundings of ballast tanks were taken” and “depth soundings also taken”.

11. What is trim and how is it calculated?

12. Name the reasons which can cause the vessel’s list while alongside.

13. Whose fault caused this unpleasant event? What is your opinion?

14. Why wasn't the ship damaged while grounding?

2. Match types of tankers with their deadweight given below.

1	Up to around 300,000 dwt. Can be accommodated by the expanded dimensions of the Suez Canal.
2	Approximately 80,000 dwt (American Freight Rate Association).
3	Between 125,000 and 180,000 dwt.
4	Capacity exceeding 300,000 dwt. The largest tankers ever built have a deadweight of over 550,000 dwt.
5	Less than 50,000 dwt, mainly used for transportation of refined products (gasoline, gasoil).

3. Give synonyms to the given words. You may use more than one.

1. to berth starboard side__________________________________________

2. to discharge____________________________________________________

3. to postpone____________________________________________________

4. surrounding area______________________________________________

5. grounding___________________________________________________

4. Decide if the following statements are True or False. Correct the wrong ones.

1. A double hull tanker moored starboard side to at high water tide in the terminal to unload a cargo.___

2. It said that the maximum allowed draught was 11.0m at low water.___

3. Because of Coast Guard inspection the vessel delayed the discharging and the ebb began.___

4. Soundings of ballast tanks were taken due to the trim.___

5. Luckily the sea bed wasn’t touched and there was no damage to vessel’s rudder, propeller or bilge keel.____

6

Slippery Steps

A vessel was recently loading a gaseous chemical cargo in a U.S. Gulf port. As part of the normal practice of the operation, a surveyor was onboard the vessel to calculate the amount of cargo loaded on this port call. Whilst this surveyor was moving from the accommodation to the cargo deck he slipped and fell whilst negotiating a ladder from the raised poop deck to the main deck. As a consequence of this fall, the surveyor suffered a broken arm and a fractured rib. The surveyor claimed he fell due to the steps being slippery and that non-slip paint had not been applied to the steps or deck in the immediate vicinity of the ladder concerned. The vessel counter claimed that he slipped and fell as both of his hands were full of equipment and he was unable to support himself whilst descending the ladder on the handrails provided.

Conclusion

The accident is possibly due to the failure of the vessel to provide safe access around the ship, particularly in areas where an accident may potentially happen or because the surveyor was not properly escorted and assisted in his movements about the vessel, thus ensuring his safety.

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