Challenges of Jack-up Barges in Port Environment Russell Bird Group Hydrographic and Dredging Manager Direct Report to Group Harbour Master

Overview  Port of Liverpool  Physical restrictions of Jack–up barges in enclosed dock system- manoeuvring, towage and berthing  Operational considerations of Jack-ups within enclosed dock system and wider port limits  The ‘grey-area’ of offshore work practises within the coastal cell  Liverpool 2 development and future Jack-Up operations  Any Questions?

Port of Liverpool- outer limits

Examples of recent vessels

Physical Restrictions  Often unusual vessels to be piloted into port environment  Significant challenges to Pilotage and Safety  Harbour Towage on smaller jack-up vessels- consider ‘composite units’  Generally heavy towage arrangements- reliance on wires, possibly ‘port ops’ configuration- low weight high strength systems  Sometimes conflict between DP vessels and manual manoeuvring through docks systems and into locks  When arriving ‘dead-tow’, benefits of having dedicated barge master to liaise with mooring party and pilot.  Small deck crews with limited experience of berthing operations i.e heaving lines at low water

Operational Considerations  Short notice approach not always conducive to efficient operations when in port  Ports do not always have up to date sediment information for berths and therefore conflict when vessels request permission to ‘Jack-Down’  PP £10m indemnity required  OR enough notice for assessment of berth for sediment type and depth  Often receive request for cranage to be driven from shore to barge  Emergency Anchorage requirements  Larger barges struggle to find adequate areas for anchoring within port and anchoring arrangements i.e jacking-down rather than traditional anchor methods

Anchorage issues

Indemnity Form- Example  Indemnify port against:  Time loss  Revenue loss  Recovery

Offshore working in an inshore environment  Many owner/operators are used to operating vessels in the offshore environment  International regulation  Freedom to move  Operations now undertaken in coastal area and port limits  Pilotage  Insurance  HM Requirements and safety assessment  Often outside navigable and operational areas- clash with port bye-laws and operations teams  MARPOL or Waste discharge consent?

Liverpool 2 and future operations  Liverpool 2- £350m project for river terminal to accommodate 2 x post- panamax container ships  Numerous jack-ups of varying sizes used in construction project already, crew transfers and piling  Harsh physical environment and unique operating procedures developed  Future operations of jack-up barges in Irish sea and Port of Liverpool  Set to increase with development- L2, cruise liner facility, Irish Sea Array  Operators/agents growing more confident with use of barges within restrictions of port environment

Any Questions? Thankyou