The Cuprus-flagged general cargo ship Saint George was en route from Amsterdam to Lubeck via the Kiel Canal when she reached Brunsbuttel at about midday on 20 March 2015. Apart from the master and pilot, the bridge was manned by the third officer and a helmsman for the entry into the Neue Nordschleuse lock. The ship sailed into the lock chamber at low speed with engine stopped. When the Saint George was supposed to be brought to a halt in the lock, she accelerated unexpectedly. Even though both anchors were dropped, a collision with the lock gate was unavoidable. Heavy material damage was caused to the ship and lock gate. There were neither injuries nor environmental pollution.
The BSU investigation report concludes that it was possible to reconstruct the course of the entry manoeuvre using the technical and written recordings, as well as the witness testimony. Fortunately, in spite of heavy material damage, nobody came to physical harm as a result of the Saint George colliding with the lock gate.
The Saint George’s entry manoeuvre happened as the rising tide reached its maximun level. As a result, the speed when entering the lock was toward the upper limits of the norm. Consequently, the window of time available, which was narrow in any case, for preventing a collision with the lock gate after the occurrence of a fault by making a correction reduced further.
A technical failure of the machinery or its control system can be ruled out.
In all probability, the accident was caused by an error in operating the engine order telegraph on the bridge. The BSU is of the opinion that this momentary laspe was facilitated by the use of the reserve engine order telegraph. Due to the technical design (lever ahead or astern), an error in operating the main engine order telegraph is less likely. The risk of confusion on the Saint George was increased further by the opposing displays on the reserve engine order telegraph and indicator showing the direction of rotation.
Learn more details about the accident by reading the BSU report
Source: BSU
