UK MAIB incident investigation report
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued the report of its investigation of the machinery failure on a ro-ro ferry on 22 October 2011 leading to contact with the berth in Calais, France.
The vessel’s main propulsion failed as it approached the berth, preventing sufficient slowing to avoid the heavy contact. The clutches connecting the main engines to their shafts disengaged almost simultaneously as a result of reduction in control air pressure.
Of the vessel’s two air compressors, one had recently become unserviceable and the other was operating below its intended capacity. The cause of the reduction in control air pressure was not accurately diagnosed by the on-watch engineers, leading to a delay in informing the bridge team of the situation, which denied the master sufficient time to assess an alternative course of action
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Source: MAIB