Page 13: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2013)

www.marinelink.com 13winds, navigational channels provid-ing draft considerations, as well as commercial and recreational traffic. There are regulated navigation areas with navigational controls for vessels 1600 GT or more and tug?s with tows greater than 1600 GT. Once a tank- er crosses through the Golden Gate Bridge after a pre-escort conference is held, a single course is rarely held for more than 3 nm. Ships are required to keep their escort within 1000 ft. ahead or aside, or within 500 ft. astern. Be-yond this requirement, Pilots tether the tug astern during the entire trip. This offers the most immediate tug response, as the tug is able to provide immediate steering and braking assis-tance. The tugs can produce forces in excess of 100 tons in the direct and indirect modes. Tankers and their escorts face envi- ronmental and navigational challeng-es in the bay on their way to any one of approximately 20 different berths able to handle petroleum. The OSPR regulations ensure safety and better facilitation of tanker movement. In a heavily regulated international indus-try, these requirements are in place for the protection of all ships, owners, charterers, and the San Francisco Bay community. The most important goal is to make sure a tankers call into San Francisco is flawless. Baydelta embodies this and their numbers prove it; it com-pletes 500 to 600 escorts annually with 90 percent of Baydelta?s work being tanker related. For every escort there is at least one assist that the es-cort boat will provide, often being met by a second Baydelta tug for docking. Built to the OSPR specifications was one of two build requirements, the other being to provide excellent ship assist capabilities for tug and barge escorts, container ships, bulkers, mili-tary vessels, cruise ships, flat tows and more. Every berth, Pilot, or tanker, on any given day will produce a dynamic list of considerations. Tugs and their op- erators must stand out in their ability to adjust to these factors. OSPR has guidelines ensuring es-cort tugs in San Francisco are up to standards. For the Delta Billie and Delta Cathryn to be let loose on the bay, each boat completed a bollard pull test. This included members from the Department of Fish and Game, and AWO RCP auditors. Data analysis of the vessel designs by Glosten As- sociates, was also conducted. A three year AWO RCP audit is done and edu- cational requirements are followed per OSPR. Four crewmen are required on board during escorts. Baydelta pri-marily operates with four crewmen at all times for safety and work hour compliance. Of the four onboard, OSPR requires three to be tanker es-cort qualified. For educational com-pliance an in house education and training program is in place that each employee undergoes. The tug crews review the program every year. As there are ever changing requirements for tankers, there exists the same for tugs. Baydelta was one of the first to participate in the US Coast Guard Voluntary Uninspected Towing Vessel Examination, in accordance with the proposed Sub Chapter M. Ensuring up to date compliance with all require-ments today and those in the future.As the dynamic environment escort tugs work in continues to change, de-mands of shippers, pilots, and citizens will change as well. It?s important for the local escort industry to commit to adapting to these changes so tankers can feel comfortable every time they pass under the Golden Gate Bridge.Talleres Navales del Golfo Islote San Juan de Ulúa s/n91800, Veracruz, Ver. México. Tel: (52) 229 9892500 Fax: (52) 229 [email protected] A WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCED SHIPYARD WITH INTEGRAL SERVICES ??Repair and maintenance of ships, machinery, equipment and engines??Repair and maintenance of jack-up and semisubmersible platforms ??Fabrication of offshore modules and components, fabrication and assembly of all types of light and heavy steel structures??Conversion, upgrading and life extension of ships and offshore unitsServicesTALLERES NAVALES !")¿$,)#,¿?1+$?¿&0¿ A GLOBAL COMPANY WHICH BEGAN ITS OPERATIONS IN 1995. CURRENTLY OFFERS INTEGRAL FABRICATION AND SHIP REPAIR SERVICES. MR #5 (10-17).indd 13MR #5 (10-17).indd 135/2/2013 9:05:46 AM5/2/2013 9:05:46 AM