Ship/Shore Link
Abbreviation: SSL
Hardwired signalling cable between ship and terminal for ESD and safety status during cargo transfer.
In practice
Connected as part of the pre-cargo ship/shore checklist. Connector incompatibility is common; many terminals carry adapter cables but some require ship's bridging hardware. The cargo officer verifies signal continuity before declaring ready to load.
Regulatory detail & full definition
A ship/shore link is a hardwired electrical connection made between a tanker and the terminal during cargo transfer to exchange emergency-shutdown (ESD) signals and safety status. It is required for gas carriers under the OCIMF Ship/Shore Interface guidelines and IACS UR Z14, and carries ESD-2 signals, communication audio and sometimes mooring-load monitoring. The Pyle-National connector is the de facto standard, but several incompatible variants exist, so terminals commonly keep bridging cables on hand to mate the ship's link to the shore system.
Authoritative source: OCIMF Ship/Shore Interface ↗
Related
Source: OCIMF Ship/Shore Interface Guidelines
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