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What Is Beaching of The Ship

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What is Beaching of the ship?

Beaching is a process wherein during an emergency situation a ship is intentionally taken


towards shallow waters and at last grounded.

The word Beaching is used for such process because the type of emergency grounding is done only
in those areas where the ground is of soft mud or sand (as in a Beach) in order to avoid damage to
ship’s hull, propeller, rudder etc.

Why Beaching is done?

The three main reasons for which Beaching of ship is done are:

• To prevent loss of ship due to flooding when there is major damage below the water
line of the ship

• To refloat the ship when satisfactory repair has been done and water tight integrity is
restored

• In order to hand it over to the scrap yard


Procedure to Perform Beaching of Ship

• Ballast the ship to its maximum capacity

• Check where the damage is more-bow side or stern side. Head with the damage side
for beaching with 90 o to the tides

• Take all measure to avoid ship going parallel to the beach (throw weather anchor first)

• If approaching from astern due to stern damage, drop both the anchor at good distance
so that they can assist the vessel in heaving when going water

• Sounding of all tanks must be done before and after beaching

BEACHING PROCEDURE AND PRECAUTIONS:-

• IF TIME AND PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW, TAKE FULL


BALLAST. THIS WILL MAKE THE REFLOATING MUCH EASIER.
• SLACK WATER AFTER THE HIGH TIDE IS THE BEST TIME TO BEACH THE
VESSEL.
• APPROACH THE BEACH AT RIGHT ANGLES. ALLOWANCE SHALL BE
MADE FOR WIND AND TIDE.
➢ LAY OUT THE ANCHORS AND CABLES AT THE PROPER POSITIONS.
• KEEP ENOUGH STEERAGEWAY TO PREVENT DRIFT OF SEAWARD END.
• DO NOT STOP ENGINES IMMEDIATELY ON TOUCHING BOTTOM. DRIVE
UP THE SHIP FIRMLY ASHORE.REDUCE POSSIBILITY OF POUNDING.
• TAKING BALLAST IN THE END AGROUND AFTER BEACHING WILL HELP
TO KEEP IT THERE FIRMLY.
➢ SOUND ALL BILGES AND TANKS. INSPECT THE SHIP FOR
DAMAGE.
• HATCHES MAY HAVE SPRUNG FROM THEIR SEATING AND CAUSE
FLOODING LATER.
• CHECK THE DEPTH OF WATER AROUND THE SHIP AND CONFIRM THE
NATURE OF BOTTOM.
• NOTE THE DRAFT. COMPARING WITH FLOATATION DRAFT GIVES A
ROUGH IDEA OF THE LOST BUOYANCY USING THE TPC FIGURES.
Emergency Procedures
Beaching (by own will)

Sometimes, in case of emergency, the master may decide, by his own will or in agreement
with the Insurance Company and/or the
P & I Club, to run his ship aground, in order :

• to save what can be saved


• to avoid a dramatic collision
• to avoid to be caught on the lee shore in very bad weather (e.g. engine breakdown or
when the engines are not powerful enough to ride the storm)
• to avoid the ship from stranding where salvaging would be too difficult or even
impossible (rocks, breakers, heavy current)
• to avoid the ship from sinking in deep water (which would make the salvage of the
crew, ship and/or cargo easier and less costly)

Take at least following actions:

• Engines stopped
• Sound general alarm
• Watertight doors to be closed
• VHF watch maintained on channel 16
• Broadcast to other vessels
• Sound signals, Light / Shapes to be exhibited
• Deck lighting switched on
• If necessary, use anchors
• Sound bilges, tanks and overside around vessel (see also Stranding
• Evaluate risks of pollution
• Inform company and any third parties if relevant
• Update if necessary vessel's position in radio room, satellite terminal and other
automatic distress transmitter (GMDSS)
• Consider danger of the situation and if possible take pictures
• Consider further actions with consideration for:
o salvage
o risks of sinking (emergency message, EPIRB's, abandon ship)
o secure position (change of tide, weather, stream, stress risks, stability)
o assistance, port of refuge, oil spills
• Keep the Company always informed
• Enter every action taken in the log book

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