TSB issues Marine Investigation Report
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released an investigation report regarding the collision between bulk carrier Heloise and tug Ocean Georgie Bain in the Port of Montreal, Quebec.
On 03 August 2013, the Heloise entered the main channel of the St. Lawrence River, where it met with two upbound vessels and numerous pleasure craft. At about the same time, the Ocean Georgie Bain had left its base to assist another vessel with berthing and was also entering the main channel. The pilot on the Heloise, concerned by the presence of pleasure craft, altered its course. Once the Heloise was clear of the craft, the pilot steadied the course of the vessel in the direction of the Ocean Georgie Bain and the 2 vessels collided. The pilot on the Heloise was not monitoring the Ocean Georgie Bain at the time of the collision, and the bridge crew on the Heloise was not assisting the pilot by maintaining a lookout or using navigational equipment to advise the pilot of relevant traffic.There was considerable damage to the Ocean Georgie Bain but no damage to the Heloise other than traces on the hull.
The investigation identified numerous risks including that operations on the bridge can be affected when language barriers inhibit communication. In addition, vessels in close proximity might not be detected and a collision may occur if available resources for safe navigation, such as radars and an electronic chart system, are not used. The investigation also found that companies and vessel masters must understand and apply all of the safe manning requirements for a vessel to be manned adequately.
Events leading to the collision
On the evening of the occurrence, there were numerous pleasure craft in the area due to the fireworks show, increasing the difficulty of navigation for commercial vessels. While navigating, the pilot of the Heloise became preoccupied with a pleasure craft that had been approaching the vessel but that he had lost sight of. In so doing, the pilot lost sight of the Ocean Georgie Bain, which was ahead and slightly to port. When he moved to the starboard side of the vessel to look for the pleasure craft, the cranes of the Heloise obstructed his view of the Ocean Georgie Bain.
Although they had not communicated, the pilot assumed that the Ocean Georgie Bain was aware of the Heloise and would remain on the outer limits of the channel. In addition, the crew members on the Heloise were not actively assisting the pilot during the voyage; they did not maintain a lookout or use the navigational equipment to advise the pilot of relevant traffic. A significant factor in this lack of active assistance was likely the language barrier, which resulted in the pilot minimizing communications with the crew.
The master on the Ocean Georgie Bain was proceeding near the middle of the channel, on the side used by upbound vessels, and was not aware of the downbound Heloise, astern, because he was navigating visually and not using electronic navigational equipment. Furthermore, Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) had not reported the presence of the Heloise, and the engineer, who was standing on the bridge, saw the Heloise approaching but did not advise the master and left the bridge shortly after seeing the vessel.
The pilot of the Heloise altered course to port to avoid a pleasure craft. At that time, he was not looking at the Ocean Georgie Bain, which was stopped and drifting near the middle of the channel. Once the pleasure craft was clear of the Heloise, the pilot steadied the course of the vessel in the direction of the Ocean Georgie Bain,and the 2 vessels collided.
Report Findings |
Findings as to causes and contributing factors
Findings as to risk
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Source: TSB / Image Credit: FleetMon
More information may be found by reading the investigation report issued by Transport Safety Board of Canada.