SKAUGEN PETROTRANS INC.

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Lightering 101 - Introduction to

Lightering
SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

What is Lightering?

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What:

Lightering is defined as the process involving ship-to-ship transfer of oil cargo.

Why:

This process is used because economical shipment of crude oil from its source to the United
States requires the use of extremely large tankers called very large crude carriers (VLCCs)
and ultra large crude carriers (ULCCs). In turn, ports may not be deep enough, or have
narrow entrances, or have small berths such that these large tankers cannot be
accommodated. Thus, lightering allows offshore unloading of the crude oil cargoes of the
very largest tankers.

How:

The lightering process consists of maneuvering a smaller tanker (service vessel) alongside
the larger tanker or STBL (ship to be lightered), typically with both vessels underway.
The two vessels are moored together with lines while using large rubber bumpers called
fenders between the two vessels to prevent damage. A portion of the crude oil cargo from
the larger ship is discharged through hoses connected between the two vessels to the
smaller ship. The two vessels may be anchored or may continue underway while the
transfer takes place depending upon sea conditions.

Where:

Lightering locations are dictated primarily by water depth and traffic. In the Gulf of Mexico,
this process takes place twenty (20) to sixty (60) miles from land. Lightering any further
offshore would be both time consuming and less convenient

When:

All the time!

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Glossary of Terms

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Glossary:
STBL (Ship-to-be-Lightered)

Very large or ultra large tanker carries crude into Gulf of

Mexico from foreign port; too large to enter ports.

SS (Service Ship)

Smaller tanker which offloads a portion of the STBLs

crude and takes it into port.

NOR (Notice of Readiness)

Notice served by the Master to inform the

terminal/charterer that the vessel is ready in all respects
to load or discharge cargo.

DOP (Dropping Outward Pilot)

Frequently used provision in a time charter to determine

the time and place of redelivery of a ship to the owner by
the charterer. The hire ceases at the moment the pilot
disembarks.

Laydays/Laycan

A spread of dates e.g.: Laydays 1st

September/Canceling 15th September, between which
dates a vessel is to present for loading. Too early and she
will probably have to wait. Too late and the risks being
canceled by the charterers.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Glossary of Terms

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Glossary: (continued)
MM (Mooring Master)

Specially trained master mariner who maneuvers

the SS alongside the STBL.

Mooring Master Assistant

Person that assists the mooring master and works on

the STBL.

LSV (Lightering Support Vessel)

Workboat (180 long) which carries the fenders and

hoses, and assists in putting the fenders on the
STBL.

Fenders

Specially designed air-inflated rubber cushions

placed on either the STBL or SS that float on the
water and will absorb the forces of bringing the two
vessels together.

Hoses

Specially designed, 12 diameter, 1 reinforced

rubber hoses that the crude oil flows through from
the STBL to the SS.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Tankers

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As
As shown
shown in
in the
the picture
picture to
to the
the left,
left,
some
some tankers
tankers are
are equipped
equipped with
with
fenders
fenders and
and hoses.
hoses. These
These tankers
tankers
may
may also
also have
have Captains
Captains who
who are
are
Mooring
Mooring Masters.
Masters. If
If this
this is
is the
the case,
case,
and
and the
the Captain
Captain is
is in
in compliance
compliance
with
with the
the USCG
USCG workwork- hour
hour
regulations,
regulations, he
he may
may conduct
conduct the
the
mooring
mooring between
between the
the service
service ship
ship
and
and the
the STBL
STBL without
without assistance.
assistance. If
If
the
the ship
ship is
is not
not so-equipped
so-equipped or
or the
the
Captain
Captain is
is not
not able
able to
to do
do the
the mooring
mooring
operation,
operation, an
an LSV
LSV with
with Mooring
Mooring
Master
Master is
is needed.
needed.

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Lightering Support Vessels (LSVs)

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

LSVs and Their Role in Ship-To-Ship Transfers

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The
The job
job of
of the
the LSV
LSV is
is to
to deliver
deliver the
the
Mooring
Mooring Master
Master and
and Mooring
Mooring Master
Master
Assistant
Assistant to
to the
the service
service ship
ship and
and
STBL;
STBL; and
and deploy
deploy and
and recover
recover the
the
fenders
fenders and
and hoses
hoses needed
needed for
for the
the
lightering
lightering operation.
operation. They
They are
are also
also
on
on standby
standby throughout
throughout the
the operation
operation
in
in case
case of
of emergencies.
emergencies. LSVs
LSVs carry
carry
the
the fenders,
fenders, hoses,
hoses, and
and personnel
personnel
needed
needed to
to conduct
conduct the
the lightering
lightering
operation.
operation. In
In addition,
addition, some
some LSVs
LSVs
are
are equipped
equipped with
with fire-fighting
fire-fighting and
and
oil-spill
oil-spill response
response equipment.
equipment.
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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

The Lightering Process

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Depending
Depending on
on weather,
weather, cargo
cargo
transfers
transfers can
can be
be made
made while
while
underway,
underway, drifting,
drifting, or
or at
at anchor.
anchor.
At
At the
the lightering
lightering position
position in
in the
the
designated
designated lightering
lightering area,
area, up
up to
to 70
70
nautical
nautical miles
miles offshore,
offshore, the
the LSV
LSV
fenders
fenders one
one of
of the
the tankers
tankers involved
involved in
in
the
the transfer
transfer and
and delivers
delivers the
the Mooring
Mooring
Master.
Master. At
At this
this time,
time, the
the cargo
cargo
transfer
transfer hoses
hoses may
may also
also be
be loaded
loaded
onto
onto one
one of
of the
the tankers.
tankers. In
In the
the
picture
picture at
at lower
lower left,
left, the
the service
service ship
ship
is
is approaching
approaching the
the STBL
STBL with
with
fenders
fenders already
already in
in place.
place.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

The Mooring Master

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The
The Mooring
Mooring Master
Master is
is stationed
stationed on
on
the
the bridge
bridge of
of the
the service
service ship
ship during
during
approach
approach and
and mooring.
mooring. Under
Under
normal
normal conditions,
conditions, both
both vessels
vessels will
will
be
be under
under way
way at
at aa pre-agreed
pre-agreed speed
speed
until
until the
the vessels
vessels are
are safely
safely moored
moored
together.
together. The
The speed
speed and
and course
course of
of
the
the STBL,
STBL, as
as well
well as
as the
the relative
relative
movement
movement between
between the
the two
two vessels
vessels
must
must periodically
periodically be
be verified
verified through
through
the
the ARPA
ARPA or
or radar.
radar.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

The Approach

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As
As the
the mother
mother ship
ship maintains
maintains her
her set
set
course
course and
and slow
slow speed,
speed, the
the lightering
lightering
tanker
tanker maneuvers
maneuvers alongside.
alongside. ItIt
slowly
slowly edges
edges closer
closer to
to the
the mother
mother
ship
ship until
until itit matches
matches course
course and
and
speed.
speed. The
The approach
approach angle
angle between
between
the
the two
two vessels
vessels should
should be
be decreased
decreased
as
as the
the parallel
parallel distance
distance decreases,
decreases, and
and
when
when the
the distance
distance is
is approximately
approximately
500
500 feet,
feet, the
the approach
approach angle
angle should
should
not
not exceed
exceed 3-5
3-5 degrees.
degrees.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Edging Closer

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The
The preferred
preferred speed
speed during
during final
final
approach
approach and
and mooring
mooring is
is usually
usually
between
between 44 and
and 66 knots.
knots. However,
However, the
the
speed
speed must
must be
be adjusted
adjusted in
in each
each case
case
to
to optimize
optimize the
the maneuverability
maneuverability of
of
both
both vessels.
vessels. As
As the
the two
two vessels
vessels
come
come near
near together,
together, they
they should
should be
be as
as
close
close to
to parallel
parallel as
as possible,
possible, so
so that
that
all
all four
four fenders
fenders simultaneously
simultaneously share
share
the
the load
load of
of the
the impact.
impact.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

The Fenders

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The
The OCIMFs
OCIMFs Ship-to-Ship
Ship-to-Ship
transfer
transfer Guide
Guide (Petroleum)
(Petroleum)
recommends
recommends the
the use
use of
of four
four 6.5m
6.5m
xx 3.3m
3.3m high
high pressure
pressure pneumatic
pneumatic
fenders
fenders for
for berthing
berthing of
of an
an
Aframax
Aframax and
and aa VLCC
VLCC type
type
tanker.
tanker.

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Mooring Lines

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Mooring
Mooring is
is to
to be
be done
done by
by the
the crew
crew of
of
each
each vessel
vessel involved
involved in
in the
the operation.
operation.
As
As aa minimum,
minimum, the
the following
following lines
lines
will
will be
be passed
passed to
to the
the STBL
STBL from
from the
the
SS:
SS: 44 to
to 66 headlines,
headlines, 22 forward
forward
spring
spring lines,
lines, 22 aft
aft spring
spring lines,
lines, and
and 44
to
to 66 stern
stern lines.The
lines.The STBL
STBL will
will also
also
be
be required
required to
to supply
supply 22 to
to 44 mooring
mooring
lines
lines aft
aft and
and forward.
forward. Upon
Upon
completion
completion of
of mooring
mooring operations,
operations,
both
both vessels
vessels must
must ensure
ensure that
that
messenger
messenger lines
lines and
and stoppers
stoppers are
are
made
made ready
ready in
in proper
proper position
position for
for fast
fast
cast
cast off
off of
of the
the mooring
mooring lines
lines should
should
that
that be
be necessary
necessary at
at some
some point.
point.
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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

All Fast Offshore

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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Hose Connection

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Next
Next comes
comes connecting
connecting the
the 12-inch,
12-inch,
90-foot
90-foot cargo
cargo transfer
transfer hoses
hoses and
and the
the
gauging
gauging of
of the
the tanks.
tanks. Crew
Crew members
members
of
of each
each vessel
vessel are
are responsible
responsible for
for
connecting
connecting the
the reducers
reducers and
and cargo
cargo
hoses.
hoses. The
The hose
hose body
body must
must be
be
supported
supported between
between the
the hose
hose and
and the
the
ships
ships rail
rail by
by aa nylon
nylon strap
strap with
with
rubber
rubber chafe
chafe fitting
fitting and
and suspended
suspended
from
from the
the ships
ships derrick/crane.
derrick/crane.
Continuous
Continuous attention
attention must
must be
be given
given
to
to the
the manifold
manifold area.
area. A
A qualified
qualified
member
member from
from each
each vessel
vessel must
must be
be
stationed
stationed at
at the
the manifold
manifold during
during the
the
entire
entire transfer.
transfer.
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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Cargo Transfer

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During
During the
the cargo
cargo transfer,
transfer, the
the STBL
STBL
must
must keep
keep aa proper
proper bridge
bridge watch
watch to
to
ensure
ensure that
that aa safe
safe anchor
anchor position
position is
is
maintained;
maintained; or
or ifif slow
slow steaming,
steaming, that
that
safe
safe navigation
navigation is
is carried
carried out.
out. The
The
pumping
pumping of
of cargo
cargo shall
shall commence
commence at
at
aa slow
slow rate,
rate, but
but when
when flow
flow has
has been
been
established,
established, and
and no
no leaks
leaks found,
found, the
the
STBL
STBL may
may increase
increase pumping
pumping
pressure
pressure to
to optimum
optimum rate.
rate. All
All hose
hose
connections
connections shall
shall be
be continuously
continuously
monitored
monitored for
for leaks.
leaks. When
When transfer
transfer
is
is completed,
completed, hoses
hoses are
are drained
drained and
and
returned
returned to
to the
the service
service ship.
ship.
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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Unmooring Operation

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Under
Under normal
normal weather
weather conditions,
conditions, the
the
unberthing
unberthing will
will be
be carried
carried out
out with
with
the
the STBL
STBL at
at anchor.
anchor. ItIt may,
may,
however,
however, be
be necessary
necessary to
to do
do the
the
operation
operation underway.
underway. In
In that
that case,
case, the
the
STBL
STBL will
will be
be instructed
instructed by
by the
the MM
MM
to
to maintain
maintain aa speed
speed and
and course
course
previously
previously agreed
agreed upon.
upon. During
During
unmooring,
unmooring, plenty
plenty of
of slack
slack must
must be
be
given
given on
on the
the mooring
mooring lines
lines and
and good
good
quality
quality messenger
messenger lines
lines must
must be
be used
used
to
to avoid
avoid difficulties
difficulties in
in removing
removing the
the
eyes
eyes off
off bitts.
bitts.
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SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

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Day 44/0001

Valero takes
their cargo

Day 45/1200

Arrival at the dock

Day 46/1500

Day 46/2200

Sail from
the dock
Drop pilot / Job
complete

Cargo discharge

Day 45/0600

Arrival at
discharge port

Day 45/0200

Day 43/0001

Bayoil loads
their cargo

Day 42

Day 45

Day 1

Day 23

AG Cargo loads VLCC

Nominate to SPT

Carbo transfer

Day 42/0001

Clark loads
their cargo

Crude Oil Transportation Time Line

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VLCC loads W. Africa

VLCC
arrives
USG
Crude
arrives
at port

SKAUGEN PETROTRANS

Lightering Coastline

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PASCAGOULA
BEAUMONT

Corpus
Corpus
Freeport
Freeport
Galveston
Galveston
Sabine
Sabine
S.
S. Sabine
Sabine Pt.
Pt.
S.W.
S.W. Pass
Pass

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N27-46
N27-46
N28-30
N28-30
N28-35
N28-35
N28-35
N28-35
N28-37
N28-37
N28-18
N28-18

W96-25
W96-25
W95-05
W95-05
W94-15
W94-15
W93-45
W93-45
W93-22
W93-22
W90-32
W90-32

SKAUGEN PETROTRANS