The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation has issued an investigation report on the collision between WES JANINE and STENBERG on Nordwest-Reede off Brunsbuttel.
On 16 January 2014, the WES JANINE was route from Bremerhaven to St.Petersburg.The ship arrived at Brunsbuttel under pilotage in the early hours of the morning.Since only limited operation of the Kiel Canal looks wsa possible due to technical problems, she had to first lie in anchorage off Brunsvuttel for an extended period.The ship’s command and pilot opted for a position on the Nordwest-Reede anchorage, where the WES JANINE anchored between STENBERG and RIJNBORG at 0200.The ship rotated up at about 0345 due to turning of the tide.
The WES JANINE’s pilot continued to monitor the behaviour of the ship until 0356 and then left the bridge.The WES JANINE started to drift at anchor and then the officer on the bridge in charge of the navigational watch did not notice this inittially or there was no appreciable response.The pilot was not requested to go to the bridge until 0518,at which point the distance to the STENBERG was 80m.The coverage was not noticed on the STENBERG until even later.
The two ships had converged even further whan the main engine was started on the WES JANINE.As a result of this, the STENBERG’s anchor cable was caught by and then blocked the WES JANINE’s screw.The WES JANINE then drifted furthertowards the STENBERG and the two ships collided.The bow of the STENBERG sustained minor damage in the process.Three containers and the hull was dented on the WES JANINE.Attempts were initially made to seperate the two ships with the help of a tug.This was not possible.
- The STENBERG later slipped her ground tackle, i.e. the anchor and chain, and was then able to continue her voyage.
- The WES JANINE was towed to a shipyardfor repair work sometime after.
- Nobody lost their life or was injured as a result of the collision between the two ships and no environmentally hazardous substances escaped.
Safety recommendations
- Ship’s command of the WES JANINE
The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation recommends that the ship’s command of the WES JANINE review the accident.In particular, the bridge team’s duties while laid up in an anchorage abd the appropriate use of navigational aids should be revisited in the process.With regard to co-operation with pilots,it is further recommended that the ship’s command review the guidelines and practises in the sense of bridge team management.
- Shipping company for WES JANINE
The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation recommends that the shipping company of the WES JANINE reniew the accident within the company in respect of the navigator’s duties in an anchorage and use of navigational aids.With regard to bridge team management, the principles of co-operating with pilots should also be intensifie further.
- Elbe Pilots’ Assosiation
The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation recommends that the Elbe Pilots’Association review the accident as part of further training within the Association. In particular, communication eithin the bridge team should be addressed in the process.
Further information may be found by reading the investigation report below
Source & Image credit:BSU
