A lean approach to comparing the mooring systems of Suezmax tankers

Abstract Mooring Suezmax tankers is a process requiring skilled ship crews and terminal workers to accomplish the time-consuming, hazardous task of securing the ship to a jetty to load or discharge oil cargoes. The advent of new equipment technologies has enabled industry professionals to view the mooring process from a new perspective. A lean approach is applied to analysing alternative mooring processes of Suezmax tankers. A reduction in mooring time of about 30 min is noted when replacing steel wire with high modulus synthetic fibre (HMSF) ropes. Further, a potential time saving of 57 min is noted if automated mooring is used instead of steel wire, and 27 min compared with HMSF. The automated mooring concept reduces the manpower required to perform the mooring process, both on board and ashore. If HMSF lines replace steel wires, a significant reduction is noted in ship and crew time costs incurred with mooring maintenance onboard during sailing. A single case study addresses the two research questions: (1) What is the mooring process of Suezmax tankers? (2) How can the mooring process of Suezmax tankers be enhanced?