Emergency Towing Connection

24 Febbraio 2022
|By Maurizio Garipoli

Emergency towing equipment is an IMO requirement necessary to ship handling in an emergency both in the harbour and the open sea.

Reference SOLAS 74 Chapter II-1 Regulation 3-4 as amended by Resolution MSC.256 (84), and MSC.1/Circ.1255 as follow:

  • 1.1 Emergency towing arrangements shall be fitted at both ends on board every tanker of not less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight.
    The arrangements shall, at all times, be capable of rapid deployment in the absence of main power on the ship to be towed and easy connection to the towing ship. At least one of the emergency towing arrangements shall be pre-rigged ready for rapid deployment; and
  • 1.2  For tankers constructed on or after 1 July 2002:
    Emergency towing arrangements at both ends shall be of adequate strength, taking into account the size and deadweight of the ship and the expected forces during bad weather conditions. The design, construction, and prototype testing of emergency towing arrangements shall be approved by the Administration, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization.
  • 1.3  For tankers constructed before 1 July 2002, the design and construction of emergency towing arrangements shall be approved by the Administration, based on the Guidelines developed by the Organization.

The subsequent amendments to MSC.35(63) resolution and MSC.132(75) adopted by IMO define a Guidelines for Emergency Towing Arrangements of Tankers to provide standards for the design and construction of emergency towing arrangements.

The emergency towing arrangements should be designed to facilitate salvage and emergency towing operations on tankers to reduce the risk of pollution. They should include:

  • Pre-rigged or non-pre-rigged towing components: Pick-up gear, Towing pennant, Chafing gear, Fairlead, Strongpoint, Roller pedestal.
  • Strength of the towing component
  • Length of the towing pennant
  • Location of strongpoint and fairlead
  • Strongpoint and fairlead Size/Geometry/Vertical location
  • Chafing chain Type/Length/Connecting limits/Stowage
  • Towing connection pennant
  • Prototype test

Emergency towing arrangements should comply with the following criteria:

  • The aft emergency towing arrangement should be pre-rigged and be capable of being deployed in a controlled manner in harbour conditions in not more than 15 min.
  • The pick-up gear for the aft towing pennant should be designed for manual operation by one person considering the absence of power and the potential for adverse environmental conditions that may prevail during such emergency towing operations.
  • The non-pre-rigged emergency towing arrangement should be capable of being deployed in harbour conditions in not more than one h.
  • The forward emergency towing arrangement should be designed to secure a towline to the chafing gear using a suitably positioned pedestal roller to facilitate the connection of the towing pennant.
  • Pre-rigged emergency towing arrangements which comply with the requirements for aft emergency towing arrangements may be accepted.
  • All emergency towing arrangements should be clearly marked to facilitate safe and effective use even in darkness and poor visibility.

The emergency towing arrangements may also be suitable for escort requirements, provided that such dual-purpose capabilities do not in any way compromise the deployment and use of the emergency towing arrangements for their SOLAS purpose.

Following the typical emergency arrangement forward and aft ends: