On its monthly safety scenario for January, the Swedish Club presents a case where a ro-ro vessel with high speed approached the berth in a port but was not able to carefully enter because of the wind, causing the vessel’s bulbous bow to hit the quay. The vessel was obliged to dry dock and repair the bulbous bow.
The incident
During morning hours and NW winds at 25-30 knots, the 200 m ro-ro vessel picked the pilot and the bridge was informed that the vessel was to berth starboard side to berth A which had a course of 285°.
Since the approach in the fairway was 090°, the vessel had to do a major port alteration of 195°. The port was open to the sea and had no breakwater. The pilot had the conn and the vessel was sailing down the fairway on a 090° course at a speed of 9 knots.
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What’s more, two tugs were standing by. Yet, they were not connected. The minute the pilot decided to start the alteration, there was less than 500 m space between the berths in the port basin. As a result, the pilot commanded the vessel to come around the port and shut down the engines.
The vessel was still making 9 knots and was sensitive to the wind because of its large hull and superstructure. This caused the strong NW wind to push the vessel away from the berth.
The vessel started to alter to port, and when the vessel was facing the berth at a 90° angle it was only 50 m ahead. The pilot now realised the danger and ordered slow astern and hard to port, followed instantly with full to port on the bow thruster. As the speed was excessive for the bow thruster, nothing happened.
In the meantime, the Master of the vessel realised that the vessel was not slowing down, thus he ordered the port anchor to be released and full astern on the engines. It was too late, and the bulbous bow hit the quay at a 90° angle.
After the contact the tugs were connected and berthed the vessel. The vessel had to dry dock to repair the bulbous bow. The berth also had to be extensively repaired.
Probable cause
The excessive speed of the vessel entering the port and the NW winds at 25-30 knots made the vessel’s berth difficult. As a result, the pilot realised the danger and ordered slow astern and hard to port, followed instantly with full to port on the bow thruster.
