In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB references a case in which a vessel lost a significant number of logs overboard due to improper securing methods during rough weather.
A coaster carrying a deck cargo of logs was on passage between two UK ports. Overnight, the vessel encountered bad weather and began to roll heavily. The next morning, the crew observed that the logs, which had previously appeared tightly stowed, had worked loose within the lashing straps securing them to the hatch covers.
The officer of the watch called the master to the bridge. The master assessed the situation and altered the vessel’s course to reduce the ship’s deck motion. Despite this action, the lashings and upright stanchions that secured the cargo were unable to prevent a large quantity of logs from being lost overboard. The master witnessed the loss and immediately informed the coastguard and diverted the vessel to a nearby port, where the deck cargo was discharged and restowed.
Lessons learned
Lashings: The timber deck cargo had been incorrectly secured. The vessel’s crew was accustomed to carrying sawn timber that could be tightly stowed and secured with nylon lashing straps. However, for deck cargoes of logs, the vessel’s cargo securing manual required the use of wiggle wires to tighten and compress the stow (Figure 2) before the lashing straps or hog wires/chains were tightened to secure the logs in place. In this case, the crew had rigged lashing straps rather than a wiggle wire.
This meant that the logs, while initially appearing to be tightly stowed, were able to move and work loose from the lashing straps securing them to the hatch top. It was also identified that the stanchions positioned along the edge of the hatch cover, while adequate for sawn timber, should have been 40% larger when logs were carried.
It is vital to secure log cargoes in line with the vessel’s cargo securing manual; wiggle wires must be used to compress the stow, and the lashings and stanchions must be fit for purpose. Additionally, lashings need to be regularly tightened during passage to maintain secure stowage.
Emergency response: The master responded proactively, immediately reporting the lost cargo and associated navigational risk to the coastguard before diverting to a nearby port to restow the cargo.
