The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) published its investigation report on the collision of supply vessel in 2019, which caused more than 6,000 gallons of diesel oil being dumped into the Sabine Pass.
The incident
On November 14, 2019, the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 left the Genesis Energy dock at 0352, en route to West Cameron Block 167, and checked in with the Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Port Arthur. The mate was alone on the bridge until the on-watch AB and the engineer joined him after unmooring the vessel. Immediately upon entering the channel, the mate attempted to use the autopilot feature for several minutes but was unsuccessful.
In describing the resulting erratic wake, the AB said:
I’m looking back there and it looks like a snake
The AB stated that twice he and the engineer had to remind the mate to steer back into the channel. The mate ceased using the autopilot, returning to manual steering, as the vessel approached two stationary jack-up mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) positioned near the Rowan Dock on the west bank.
After narrowly avoiding the jack-ups, automatic identification system (AIS) and VTS data showed the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 crossed the channel at 0400 at a near right angle, then followed the east side of the channel. The Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 started back across the channel to the west side at 0407 and passed a pilot boat, port to port, at 0410 near buoy 29. The vessel continued down the west side of the channel until the mate passed near buoy 27 at 0412. At this bend in the channel, the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 again crossed the channel to the east side, about 1 mile ahead of the inbound Mariya Moran/Texas. As the vessels approached each other, the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 AB reported sighting the Mariya Moran/Texas, which the mate acknowledged, stating:
That’s a ship
En route from Port Everglades, Florida, the Mariya Moran/Texas ATB weighed anchor outside the jetties about 0330, checked in with VTS, and proceeded inbound to load at Valero Dock no. 1 in Port Arthur. About 0400, roughly 0.5 miles inside the jetties, a Sabine pilot boarded the Mariya Moran/Texas, and the AB escorted him to the wheelhouse. The chief mate and pilot completed a master/pilot exchange, and the pilot checked in with VTS, who advised him of the outbound Cheramie Bo Truc No 22, which the pilot acknowledged. The pilot stated he saw the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 on his portable pilot unit before relieving the chief mate at the helm.
After the master/pilot exchange, the chief mate stepped outside on the port bridge wing to smoke. The pilot first noticed the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22’s masthead lights about 1 mile away. He stated the offshore supply vessel was maintaining the red or east side of the channel.
About 0414, Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 started a turn to starboard. The AB and engineer noticed the mate start the turn and recommended he come left to avoid the ATB. The mate did not acknowledge them. The Mariya Moran/Texas pilot hailed the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 on channel 13, to which the mate answered. During the radio call, believing a collision was imminent on the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22, the AB left the bridge, and the engineer ran from the port side of the bridge to starboard and braced himself.
On the Mariya Moran/Texas, the chief mate outside the wheelhouse did not hear the pilot talk to the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 but noticed a “black thing” fine on the port bow about the same time the pilot knocked on the window to get his attention. The chief mate stepped inside, glanced at the electronic chart system, thought that they were on the west edge of the channel, and became concerned they were headed aground.
The bow (stem) of the barge Texas collided with the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 at nearly a right angle, aft of the superstructure. The Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 mate was thrown from his chair. The Mariya Moran’s assistant engineer felt the engines go full reverse after the collision. The Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 drifted past the Mariya Moran/Texas’s starboard side, and the Mariya Moran chief mate ordered the AB and the tankerman to the bow to standby at the anchor.
Probable cause
According to the National Transportation Safety Board:
The probable cause of the collision between the offshore supply vessel Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 and ATB Mariya Moran/Texas was the offshore supply vessel mate’s turn across the path of the ATB during a meeting situation
Contributing to the accident was a lack of early communication from both vessels.
Lessons learned
Moreover, NTSB noted that afe and effective navigation is not one person’s job. Bridge resource management includes the concept of teamwork, which is an essential defense against human error.
A good team should anticipate dangerous situations and recognize the development of an error chain. If in doubt, team members should speak up or notify a higher authority. Vessel operators should train their crews on and enforce their safety policies
explore more on the NTSB report
