OnDeck Academy

Video coming soon

Your place in a mooring operation

In the video

A dry walk through one mooring station
Sample calls: distance, a shifted fender and a lost view

From the captain

Before you start

During a mooring, 'looks all right' is not really information. The bridge would quite like to know whether all right means five metres, one metre or a fender quietly escaping down the side.

By the end of this lesson

Prepare an assigned station and report distance, movement and equipment changes usefully.

See it

See it for yourself

Give the bridge a call it can use

Position, distance and movement. Not a feeling.

You call

“Stern, three metres off, closing slowly.”

Position: Stern
Distance: three metres off
Movement: closing slowly

Example wording only. Use the vessel's agreed language for distance, closing rate, fender position and line status.

Say what you see: location, approximate clearance and whether it is opening or closing. Say when the view is obstructed or the distance is only an estimate.

Draft technical visual · plan view, not to scale · example wording · the vessel's agreed calls and the person in charge govern

What to look for

Know your station before arrival
Confirm your task, line, fenders, communication and the person directing the deck. Do not change the line sequence to solve a private problem.
Give a usable observation
Describe location, approximate clearance and whether it is opening or closing. Say when the view is obstructed or the distance is only an estimate.

The lesson

01
The briefing comes first
Mooring plans differ. Before arrival, know your station, line, fender arrangement, communication method and the officer running the deck. Check the equipment and keep guests outside the working area.
02
Report what you can see
Use the vessel's agreed language for distance, closing rate, fender position and line status. Make calls at the frequency requested. If a line will not reach, a fender has shifted or clearance is reducing, report it immediately and plainly.
03
Commands and hazards stay separate
Follow the person in charge for line sequence and tension. Do not change the plan silently. Anyone who sees immediate danger can call stop, but routine instructions still come through the agreed command structure.

Where it goes wrong

The bridge asks for stern distance and hears 'I think we're fine'. The caller has seen the gap closing but has given no distance, direction or urgency. The captain now has to interpret a feeling while manoeuvring the vessel.

Your call

What would you do?

Pick one, then read the feedback on all three.

The situation

You can no longer see the stern clearance, but the bridge is asking for the next distance call.

Take it aboard

Give three station reports

Do this during your induction or first weeks, with the person responsible for your work.

Desk exercise

Use a still photograph or dry station view, with sample distances clearly labelled as training values.

01State your station and assigned view.
02Give distance and movement using the vessel's convention.
03Report a fender change.
04State when the view becomes obstructed.

What a useful result looks like

Reports describe what can be observed.
Estimate and lost view are clear.
No uncommanded line change is made.

Stop: No live manoeuvre or guest operation is required. Keep sample calls off operational radio channels.

Deckhand Foundation · Job card

Mooring station prompt

From the lesson: Your place in a mooring operation

Role, line and fenders briefed.
PPE, communication and station checks complete.
Hazards and escape route understood.
Distance and movement reported clearly.
Changes and lost view reported promptly.

Station / call convention

Sample report / feedback

Your vessel's procedures and senior crew come first. Nothing on this card is stored.

Quick check

Four decisions, then move on

This check confirms the principle. Your vessel's own induction still comes first.