UK MAIB recently issued its investigation report, focusing on a roll/roll-off (ro-ro) ferry vessel which grounded while passing through the Greenore Channel in Carlingford Lough, Northern Ireland. For the records, the vessel departed from Warrenpoint, with final destination Heysham, England.
The incident
As UK MAIB informs, it was at 2150 on 8 May 2019, when the master of the “Seatruck Performance” arrived on the bridge and was ready for a 2200 departure from Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland to Heysham, England.
With cargo operations being completed, the master contacted the Warrenpoint harbour on very high frequency (VHF) radio channel 12 to advise that the ferry’s draught was 5.5 and to request permission to further sail. At the same time, Warrenpoint Harbour gave its approval for the vessel’s departure, while advised that the height of tide, which was fooding, was 1.5m.
In order to ensure that the water depth in the Greennore Channel was enough for the vessel to pass through, the master chose to remain alongside for five more minutes.
At 2205, Seatruck Performance sailed from Warrenpoint. On the bridge were the master, who had the con, accompanied by the chief officer, who was the officer of the watch (OOW). On clearing the
harbour breakwater, the master changed the steering control from ‘hand’ to autopilot and released the crew from their mooring stations.
The ferry was heading 130° towards the Greenore Channel at between 8 and 10 knots, while the visibility was good, and the wind was north-easterly at about 15 knot.
Moments later, “Seatruck Performance” was getting near to No 16 and No 21 lateral buoys, when the master saw from the rate of turn indication on the conning display, that the ferry unexpectedly was turning very slow to port.
He immediately acted and applied 10° of starboard helm. The ferry begun to turn to starboard, but the master noticed was turning too quickly.
The 3/O then reported that the ferry was clear of No 21 buoy on the port side. While, the master realized that Seatruck Performance was further to the north than he actually intended.
In light of the situation, the master then applied starboard helm in increasing amount in order to keep the vessel beyond the buoyed channel, but suddenly at 2242 a loud noise and a vibration with duration about 7 seconds was heard and felt throughout the ferry, resulting the vessel to ground.
After the grounding, the vessel stayed out of service for three weeks. For the records, there were no any pollution and any injuries reported to its 11 passengers and 22 crew.
Lessons learned:
- The fact that its heading was altered later than intended after entering the western end of the Greenore Channel, resulted the vessel to ground.
- Shallow water effects were experienced as the ferry approached the intended alteration, which affected both heading and speed, due to the under keel clearance and the proximity of a charted bank on the south side of the channel.
- The potential for squat was not considered when calculating the ferry’s under keel clearance before departure, or when considering its speed.
- The master was steering by hand, which reduced his ability to maintain an overview of the situation, while the lack of support from the bridge team made him a single point of failure.
- The navigational practices that the ferry’s team was using, did not full incorporate the electronic aids available and were insufficient to assure the vessel’s safe outbound passage, at night, when passing through the Greenore Channel.
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