In the Sound of Mull, on 9 August 2011
MAIB issues report regarding Grounding of CSL THAMES, in the Sound of Mull, on 9 August 2011 as follows:
At 1026 (UTC +1) on 9 August 2011, CSL Thames, a Maltese registered selfdischarging bulk carrier, grounded briefly in the Sound of Mull while on passage from Glensanda to Wilhelmshaven. The vessel sustained bottom damage to her hull, including a 3-metre fracture to one of her water ballast deep tanks, which flooded. There were no reported injuries or pollution.
The MAIB investigation found that CSL Thames ran aground after the third officer had altered the vessel’s course to starboard of the planned track to avoid another vessel. He did not notice that the alteration would take CSL Thames into shallow water, and the audio alarm on the electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) that should have alerted him to the impending danger was inoperative.
Further, the master’s and other watchkeepers’ knowledge of the vessel’s ECDIS was insufficient and therefore no-one within the bridge team questioned the absence of the ECDIS audio alarm, or recognised that the system’s safety contour setting was inappropriate for the planned voyage.
Alfa Ship & Crew Management GmbH has taken a number of actions designed to prevent a similar accident in the future. Additionally, the MAIB has issued a recommendation to the company designed to ensure the introduction of written instructions and guidance on the use of ECDIS and emergency preparedness, and measures to verify that these will be properly implemented throughout its fleet.
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Source: MAIB
