The vessel was port side at berth taking bunkers via a barge on the starboard side. The bunker barge was secured alongside the vessel and was initially overhanging the vessel’s stern by 10 to 12 metres. Although the berth immediately astern was vacant at the time, potentially it could have received another vessel. The bunker barge overhang would then become a potential hazard.
Lessons learned
- Masters and mates should always assess the berthing arrangement and think about possible consequences.
- If potentially dangerous situations arise, such as an overhanging bunker barge that cannot be repositioned, the port should be advised.
- Bunker barges should be equipped with flexible hoses to enable a variable range for connections, removing the need for the bunker barge to overhang. After assessing the situation, the bunker barge was subsequently moved forward to reduce the overhang considerably.
Source & Image Credit : The Nautical Institute/ Mars Reports
