Gard informed that in the past six months it has been notified of five mooring line failures at the port of Veracruz.
According to Gard’s local correspondents, Pinedo Abogados, these incidents are attributed to the ongoing port expansion at the Northern terminal and increasingly severe weather conditions, particularly cold fronts.
Rising trend of mooring lines parting and recommendations
Recurring mooring line failures pose a significant risk at both North and South Bay port terminals during the September to April cold front season. High waves and winds exceeding 90 km/h cause severe vessel pitching, leading to excessive tension and breakage of mooring lines, even reinforced ones.
This has resulted in numerous incidents, including one in December 2024 where a vessel damaged multiple other vessels after breaking its lines, and in another instance, tugs were needed to secure a vessel that had six of the mooring lines parting, including spares.
The Port of Veracruz currently does not offer a mooring rope rental service or supply of spare mooring ropes. Vessels must therefore arrive with sufficient mooring lines of their own.
To enhance safety, the container terminal has implemented shore tension mechanisms that automatically manage mooring line tension during adverse weather, mitigating the impact of vessel movement and wave action.
While the Port Authorities have not issued any formal warnings about mooring incidents, it is important that the owners and crew of vessels calling the port of Veracruz are aware of these risks.
Pinedo Abogados recommend that owners, managers and masters actively seek information from port authorities, pilots, and their local agents on matters such as:
- historical incidents,
- mooring configurations (including rope requirements and layout of bollards),
- weather alert systems,
- current conditions, and
- tugboat availability.
Should berth conditions become unsafe, vessels are advised to arrange for a timely departure to sea.
Traffic movement and weather patterns
AIS data reveals that the Southern terminal handles a much higher volume of traffic than the Northern terminal, which has seen a gradual increase in port calls since 2019 due to ongoing expansion. Despite this, the Southern terminal remains the primary hub, with bulk carriers, especially handysize vessels, making up the majority of port calls.
Additionally, weather conditions, such as wind speed and swell height, significantly affect mooring safety. Wind creates lateral pressure on vessels, stressing mooring lines, while swell causes vertical and horizontal movements, leading to cyclical loading and potential line fatigue.
Both wind and swell peak between November and March, aligning with an uptick in mooring incidents during this period, highlighting the critical impact of weather on vessel safety at the port.
Contractual concerns
Incidents involving mooring lines parting may lead to claims by owners and charterers, for:
- breach of safe port/berth warranties; or
- implied indemnity following Charterer instructions.
Unsafe port claims
Charterers are obliged to only order the vessel to ports, which at the time the order is given are safe.
If a vessel requires more than the usual number of spare mooring ropes on board to manage incidents of frequent breakages due to high wind and waves, it could be argued that this goes beyond the threshold of ordinary seamanship.
It is also worth enquiring before arrival about the adequacy of the mooring systems in the port, Pinedo Abogados advise.
Implied Indemnity
The general principle is that where an owner complies with an employment order which exposes the vessel to a risk which owners have not agreed to bear, that risk must exceed a general navigational risk but rather must flow directly from Charterers’ orders.
Whether these claims succeed will depend on the specific facts surrounding the incident giving rise to the claim, and we recommend that members notify the Club as soon as possible in case of any incident.
