The UK MAIB has issued its report on the investigation of the capsize and sinking of the cement carrier Cemfjord while transiting the Pentland Firth, Scotland on January 2015.
As far as the particulars of the accident are concerned, Cemfjord capsized suddenly and rapidly at 1316 on 2 January 2015 when it encountered extraordinarily violent, breaking seas in the Pentland Firth, Outer Sound.Twenty-five hours later, the alarm was raised when its upturned hull was sighted by a passing ferry. An extensive search followed but none of Cemfjord’s eight crew were found and they are all assumed to have perished. The vessel sank late in the evening on 3 January 2015.
The investigation found that Cemfjord capsized in extraordinarily violent sea conditions caused by gale force winds and a strong, opposing tidal stream. Such conditions are commonly experienced within the Pentland Firth, were predictable and could have been avoided by effective passage planning. The master’s decision to take Cemfjord into the Pentland Firth at that time was probably influenced by actual or perceived commercial pressures and his personal determination to succeed. While it is likely that he had underestimated the environmental conditions, his decision to press on would almost certainly have been influenced by his recent experience of a dangerous cargo shift while attempting to abort an approach to the Firth in heavy seas.
The rapid nature of the capsize denied the crew the opportunity to broadcast a distress message or abandon their ship. The float-free emergency position indicating radio beacon did not work almost certainly because it became trapped in the upturned hull. The accident went unnoticed ashore because the vessel’s progress through the Pentland Firth was not being monitored and Shetland Coastguard did not require vessels to report when exiting the voluntary reporting scheme area.
The investigation also established that Cemfjord was at sea with significant safety deficiencies relating to its rescue boat launching arrangements and bilge pumping system in the void spaces beneath the cement cargo holds. Both shortcomings were subject to Flag State approved exemptions from safety regulations; however, the exemption regarding the rescue boat was not applicable to the equipment on board. This resulted from misunderstandings caused by the imprecise nature of the communication between the vessel’s managers, the Flag State and the Flag State’s recognised organisation. The Flag State’s process for managing requests for exemptions from international safety regulations was also found to lack rigour.
Additionally, Flag State inspections of the vessel over many years in Poland were ineffective and did not deliver the intended levels of assurance. Since the accident, Cemfjord’s managing company, Brise Bereederungs GmbH, has implemented several changes and initiatives aimed at improving the safe operation of its cement carrying vessels and the safety culture of its crews. The changes include enhancements to its vessels’ stability management and weather forecasting capabilities in order to aid passage planning. The Department of Merchant Shipping for the Republic of Cyprus has introduced a new process for managing requests from shipping companies for Flag State exemptions from international safety regulations. Det Norske VeritasGermanischer Lloyd has appointed designated Flag State liaison officers to improve dialogue and enhance mutual understanding between itself and Flag States.
Safety recommendations have been made to: Brise Bereederungs GmbH to further improve the safety of its fleet of cement carrying vessels; the Republic of Cyprus’ Department of Merchant Shipping to enhance the management of its safety regulation exemption process; and to the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency to review the arrangements for the safety of shipping in the Pentland Firth.
In order to minimise the consequences of a marine accident, a vessel and its crew need to be prepared to deal with a variety of emergency situations expanded in the report below.
To see the full report please click on below.
Source and Image Credit: UK MAIB
