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SAFETY4SEA

Lessons learned: Tow collides with tug

by The Editorial Team
August 29, 2014
in Accidents
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Mars Reports 2014

MARS-reportsThe Nautical Institute has issued Mars Report No 46/2014 regardingtow collission with tug.

An unmanned, decommissioned fisheries protection vessel was under tow when it developed a list of about 10 degrees to port. The tug’s Master informed the tug company’s managers and then called the local coastguard authority to request permission to seek shelter in a nearby bay and investigate the cause of the list. In preparation for this, he reduced the scope of the tow from 480 metres to 200 metres and altered course towards the place of refuge. The Master was informed by the coastguard that he would need to take a pilot to enter the bay since he was not simply seeking shelter, but intending to board the towed vessel to investigate the list. The Master subsequently decided to anchor the tug and tow in the deep anchorage outside the bay where no pilot was required.

The weather at the deep anchorage was light winds, slight sea and good visibility. The tidal stream was north-easterly about 0.9kt. The Master’s plan was to anchor the tug and then board the towed vessel himself to investigate the cause of the list. He reduced the length of the tow further, to 100 metres, and stopped the tug downtide of the tow. An officer was forward with a seaman and the Master and the chief engineer were on the bridge. The towed vessel was about 60 metres away when the Master ordered to let go the port anchor and put one shackle of chain in the water. At this point, control of the anchor windlass was transferred to the bridge and the cable was walked out. The anchoring had the effect of pivoting the tug to port, stopping it in the water, side-on to the tide and in the path of the tow, which maintained its momentum.

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When 1 shackles were in the water, the Master stopped walking out the anchor cable and used the searchlight to locate the towed vessel, which had been lost visually. A few seconds later, the towed vessel was seen closing the port side of the tug at right angles.

The Master immediately attempted evasive action to avoid a collision but the towed vessel struck the tow just aft of midships on the port side. As the Master attempted to manoeuvre clear he was informed that there was major water ingress to the engine room. The towed vessel’s bow had penetrated the tug’s shell plating below the waterline in way of the hydraulic motors in the engine room. The Master called the coastguard on VHF, advised them that the engine room was flooding and requested immediate assistance. Meanwhile, the hydraulic pump motors failed due to water ingress resulting in the immediate loss of all hydraulic power, which disabled the windlass. Concerned that the vessel might sink, the Master released the tow and put both engines full ahead in an attempt to dredge the anchor into shallower water.

Although the tug was later saved due to the actions of the Master and the quick response of local authorities, the towed vessel eventually sank.

Investigation Findings
  • The Master’s lack of appreciation of the dangers resulting from tidal effects on the tow when anchoring was a direct contributing factor.
  • The Master contacted the company as soon as he became concerned about the list on the towed vessel. However, there were no instructions or guidance in the company’s procedures regarding the use of senior, experienced staff from the management company to assist Masters in planning their response to crisis situations such as this. Had the Master developed a plan in conjunction with senior, experienced staff from the company, it is likely that the tidal conditions would have been taken into account.
  • Had the Master taken a pilot, the subsequent anchoring would have been better prepared and therefore (probably) not have resulted in a collision.

Source and Image Credit: The Nautical Institute/ Mars Report

The Mariners’ Alerting and Reporting Scheme (MARS) is primarily a confidential reporting system run by The Nautical Institute to allow full reporting of accidents (and near misses) without fear of identification or litigation.

As a free service to the industry, MARS reports also regularly comprise alerts condensed from official industry sources, so that issues resulting from recent incidents can be efficiently relayed to the mariner on board.

With access to the internet from vessels becoming more affordable, the MARS database is a valuable risk assessment, work planning, loss prevention tool and training aid for crew and management.

MARS reports are held in a publicly-accessible database and can be accessed by clicking on the link below:

Search MARS Reports

Contact the Editor of MARS at[email protected]

Above Mars Report is edited fromofficial MAIB report 10-2014

Lessons learned: Tow collides with tugLessons learned: Tow collides with tug
Lessons learned: Tow collides with tugLessons learned: Tow collides with tug
Tags: lessons learnedMars ReportsThe Nautical Institutetowing vesselstugs
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