In its recent Good Catch series the American Club informs about a grounding and coral reef damage and provides lessons learned.
The incident
A handysize bulk carrier was anchored offshore awaiting orders. The weather was mild, but a cold front was expected to arrive overnight. The Master left standing orders instructions for the Officer on the anchor watch to pay particular attention to the changing weather and alert him if a problem occurs.
Shortly after 0200, the wind speed increased to 30 knots with gusts to 38 knots. With no cargo onboard and riding high in the water, the vessel began to drag its anchor. The Officer on the anchor watch observed the increase in wind speed and logged it but did not take any additional position fixes to verify if the anchor was holding. In addition, he did not inspect the anchor chain for any indication that the anchor was dragging.
The Officer on anchor watch did not notice this for over an hour. By that time, the vessel was dangerously close to a reef. As soon as the Officer on anchor watch recognized that the vessel was dragging anchor and at risk of grounding, he called the Master. The Master instructed him to immediately notify the engine room to start the main engine. However, by the time the engine was ready for orders, the ship had grounded on the reef.
The weather subsided quickly, assist tugs were called and the vessel was successfully refloated after 18 hours.
The investigation determined that the Master’s standing orders were inadequate and should have included standing instructions with more specific parameters than “if a problem occurs.”
The Master could have required both an increase in the frequency of position fixes and earlier notification of the Master based on a specific wind speed or in response to any indication the anchor was dragging. With the predicted weather, the risk of dragging anchor should have been recognized and mitigation measures put into action.
The investigation also noted that the decision to anchor in that location near a coral reef was ill-advised, especially with the Master’s full awareness of the expected weather.
Damages and injuries
The vessel sustained puncture and indentation damage to the hull in the vicinity of a ballast tank. The vessel had to drydock for repairs. Actual costs to refloat the vessel and to make repairs to the hull exceeded $385,000.
The country where the grounding occurred filed a claim for damage to their coral reef. That claim exceeded $1.25M for repair and restoration work. The claim was based partly on damage from the hull’s contact with the coral reef but also on the damage created by the anchor chain as it dragged across the coral reef. It was estimated that over 400 square meters of the coral reef had been damaged by the anchor chain. An additional part of the claim was for damage to the coral reef from the tugs and their propeller wash in their efforts to free the vessel from the reef.
Lessons learned
- Decisions about where to anchor must consider the expected weather and risks associated with the possibility of the vessel dragging its anchor.
- Masters should draft standing orders for the anchor watch should include clearly defined thresholds for when specific actions should be taken. Those actions could include calling the Master, notifying the engine room, having the engines started, and/or increasing the frequency of position fixes.
- The Officers on anchor watch should understand fully their responsibilities and duties and expect to be held accountable.
