Ship to Ship Operations
Ship-to-Ship (StS) transfer operations have been successfully completed alongside the jetties at the Sullom Voe Terminal (SVT) since April 2004.
The UK Government Licensed operations under “The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010” are carried out in the enclosed waters of the harbour where segregated ballast water discharge is permitted under the conditions out set by the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM). For Further UK Guidance see http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/shipsandcargoes/mcga-shipsregsandguidance.htm
As a potential customer for this service, this information note aims to provide you with an outline of the service offer, the charges for the service, some details of the relevant port regulations, a view of the future potential for enhancement of the service and contact details for further information.
Service Offer
The release of jetty 4 from Brent blend service in 2003 created the spare capacity to develop new services. This jetty flexibility, together with the existing Sullom Voe advantages of a deep draught harbour (20m), a 25+ year track record of safe, reliable port operations and the convenience of having all service providers within easy reach of the jetties, provided the final ingredient to establish StS services.
Developed by SVT and SIC, together with the other service providers involved, StS services can be provided on an ad hoc or more regular basis and offer:
- the ability to conduct StS transfer operations from a delivering vessel/vessels to a receiving vessel berthed alongside jetty 4, managed by experienced service providers.
- pilotage, towage, berthing, terminal support and StS transfer operations.
- a local agent to manage the contractual arrangements with the party responsible for supply of transfer hoses/fenders and supervision of the transfer operations.
- a competitively priced service.
The parties involved in providing the service and their roles are:
- Local agents, as first point of contact, for all customer enquiries for STS transfer operators & supplier of fenders and transfer hoses.
- Sullom Voe Harbour Authority (SIC); Port control, including pilotage, berthing/unberthing. Towage services, including vessel escort, vessel push-up, pollution response support. Overall responsibility for ensuring safe performance of the service with no adverse environmental impacts while vessels are within the Sullom Voe Harbour area.
- SVT Operator (EnQuest); tying up inboard vessel to jetty 4, pollution response, emergency response assistance, ship vetting.
Charges
Customers should contact Ship to Ship Transfer Operators direct or via Local Agents, to complete contractual agreements to provide supervision for the cargo transfer operations and equipment (hoses and fenders). (See Contact at the left of the page).
In addition to the contractual arrangements for the transfer operations, the supplying vessel(s) will pay a consolidated charge per cargo gross tonne transferred, for the services provided by the Sullom Voe Harbour Authority and SVT Operator. The current charge can be found at any time by referring to "Ship to Ship Transfer of Oil" paragraphs in the in the "Sullom Voe Terminal and Gas Processing Plant“ Section of the "Harbour Authority Table of Dues” link on this page.
There is no charge for moving vessels that have been part-loaded with other crude oils at jetty 2 or 3 to/from jetty 4 for StS transfer operations