5 Manning of Towing Vessels and Towed Objects
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.884 – Guidelines for Safe Ocean Towing – (Adopted on 21 December 1998) - Annex - Draft Guidelines for Safe Ocean Towing - 5 Manning of Towing Vessels and Towed Objects

5 Manning of Towing Vessels and Towed Objects

  5.1 Towing vessels should be manned to operate the towing vessel on a 24-hour basis in accordance with the STCW Code.

  5.2 The manning should also, in addition to operating the vessel, be sufficient to ensure that it will be possible to:

  • establish a new towing connection; and
  • board the unmanned towed object, if planned, in an emergency situation.

  5.3 If the towed object is manned, the number of personnel on board the towed object should, as far as possible, be limited to the necessary crew only.

  5.4 Considerations should be given to the need to safely transfer personnel and equipment between the towing vessel and the towed object when such operation is planned to take place in an emergency situation. Personnel under transfer should have life jackets or immersion suits, carry suitable radiocommunication equipment and portable lights. In selecting immersion suits, due regard should be given to the degree of body heat-loss protection necessary in the area of operation.

Parent topic: Annex - Draft Guidelines for Safe Ocean Towing
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