Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, July 4, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    bali indonesia

    Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

    Year in Review: How the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected shipping in 2022

    LR: New requirements for lifting appliances and anchor winches

    RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall

    Two crew members accused over deadly tanker collision

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hull

    AkzoNobel: Quality antifouling coatings can help with CII and EEXI compliance

    nuclear power

    Nuclear shipping inches closer to reality: Latest developments

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    CSA scrubbers

    CSA urges OSPAR to improve understanding before enacting scrubber ban

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

    abs training center

    ABS opens smart training center in Athens

    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

    PSC

    AMSA Annual PSC Report: ISM-related deficiencies on the lead

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    European Commission EU

    EU in discussions over maritime and port strategies

    underwater noise from ships

    AMSA: Reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    Germany shadow fleet

    German Government increases vigilance in the Baltic Sea

  • Columns
    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    human factor organizational safety

    Cracking the safety code: Why human factors matter

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    AP Companies: How physical and mental well-being shape happier ships

    bali indonesia

    Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

    Year in Review: How the Russian invasion of Ukraine affected shipping in 2022

    LR: New requirements for lifting appliances and anchor winches

    RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall

    Two crew members accused over deadly tanker collision

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    neck pain

    Neck pain: A growing health concern for maritime workers

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Feel grounded and think positive in 10 simple steps

    time

    Stay SEAFiT: Time is non-renewable – invest it wisely

    public speaking

    8 Key rules of Public Speaking

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    hull

    AkzoNobel: Quality antifouling coatings can help with CII and EEXI compliance

    nuclear power

    Nuclear shipping inches closer to reality: Latest developments

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    CSA scrubbers

    CSA urges OSPAR to improve understanding before enacting scrubber ban

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    autonomous navigation

    New deal aims to advance autonomous navigation technology

    abs training center

    ABS opens smart training center in Athens

    iaph cyber security

    IAPH releases cyber security guidelines for new port technologies

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    OCIMF

    OCIMF Annual Report 2025: SIRE 2.0 a welcome change for the industry

    USCG

    ABS PSC Report Q1 2025: 526 total vessels detained

    paris mou lists

    Paris MoU 2024 Performance lists

    PSC

    AMSA Annual PSC Report: ISM-related deficiencies on the lead

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    European Commission EU

    EU in discussions over maritime and port strategies

    underwater noise from ships

    AMSA: Reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping

    nuclear energy ABS

    Consortium advances floating nuclear power for the Mediterranean

    Germany shadow fleet

    German Government increases vigilance in the Baltic Sea

  • Columns
    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

    connectivity

    Innovating ocean safety: Intellian’s unified vision for connectivity and GMDSS

    human factor organizational safety

    Cracking the safety code: Why human factors matter

    Trending Tags

    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall

by The Editorial Team
December 11, 2019
in Accidents
fatal fall
FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator issued an investigation report on the fatality of a Pilot while disembarking a ship and attempting to transfer from the pilot ladder to an escort tugboat off the Port of Tuapse, Russia, in the early morning hours of 30 December 2018.

The incident

On 30 December 2018, the Republic of the Marshall Islands-registered oil/chemical tanker Mount Olympus, managed by Systemar Ltd was departing the port of Tuapse, Russia to proceed to sea.

At 0418, a Pilot from the tugboat KAPITAN AVDYUKOV boarded MOUNT OLYMPUS from the jetty on the starboard side.

RelatedNews

Ferry sinks off Bali with multiple casualties

RMI: 954 incident reports received during 2024

At about 5.00, the weather conditions recorded were wind Beaufort Force 6 from the southwest.

The tugboat KAPITAN AVDYUKOV approached the ship, and the Pilot began descending the ladder.

According to the local authority’s investigation report, the pilot ladder was well lit by searchlights from both the ship and the tugboat.

At approximately 0510, the Master was standing on the portside bridge wing monitoring the Pilot’s disembarkation. At that time, a large wave forced the tugboat away from MOUNT OLYMPUS’ side.

The Pilot lost his balance and fell into the water. The 4/O immediately shouted that the Pilot had fallen into the water.

An OS immediately threw a lifebuoy with light into the water and the Master ordered the main engine to be stopped and initiated a rudder maneuver to swing the MOUNT OLYMPUS’ stern away from where the Pilot had fallen.

The Master also told the port authority of the incident via VHF radio. The Master instructed all available crew members to look out for the Pilot, using the ship’s searchlights. The tugboat turned to try to locate the Pilot.

According to the local investigation report, approximately one to two minutes after the Pilot fell, the deck officer of the tugboat heard calls for help from the Pilot on VHF channel 69 saying “Help, I’m drowning.”

The Pilot was recovered from the water by the tugboat crew after a short time but was later declared deceased. The port authorities instructed the ship to wait in a local anchorage. Later the same day, MOUNT OLYMPUS was cleared to sail.

When the Pilot was lifted out of the water, the life jacket he was wearing was not inflated.

 

Probable causes

The Administrator’s marine safety investigation determined that the causal factors for the Pilot’s occupational fatality resulted from an accidental fall into the sea. This occurred while he attempted to transfer from MOUNT OLYMPUS’ pilot ladder onto the tugboat’s boarding platform in the dark during poor and deteriorating weather conditions.

According to the forensic report, the Pilot’s death “occurred as a result of drowning in water.” The RMI investigation determined the causal factors that may have contributed to the fatality included:

  1. improper assessment of risk and decision making by the Pilot and Master by not fully accounting for the deteriorating weather conditions;
  2. improper delegation by the Master to the Pilot of the decision-making process;
  3. failure by the Pilot to fully take into consideration the Master’s concerns and recommendations regarding the sea conditions and pilot ladder position;
  4. poor and deteriorating weather conditions causing random and unpredictable motions of the tugboat; and
  5. failure of the Pilot’s self-inflating life jacket to properly inflate on entering the water.

The causal factors that may have contributed to the incident include:

  • darkness and poor or restricted visibility near the Pilot’s transfer position; and
  • failure to wait until the weather and lighting conditions had improved sufficiently to permit safe transfer to the tugboat.

 

Actions taken

The Company conducted an internal safety meeting to review the circumstances leading up to the incident in order to determine what might have been done to prevent it and what Preventive Actions could be put in place in the future. Based on this review, the company:

  • shared details of the incident throughout its managed fleet; and
  • Masters were instructed to verbally remind Pilots in the region about the incident with the intent that prevailing conditions be given more careful consideration.

The Federal Transport Inspection Service of the Directorate for State of Maritime and River Supervision in the Russian Federation conducted their own investigation into the incident and have put in place their own Preventive Actions to include:

  • ensuring that pilot boarding arrangements onto pilot boats and tugboats are fully compliant with SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 23.4.2, and paragraph 5.2 of IMO Resolution A.1045(27);
  • not permitting Pilots to use inflatable life jackets without annual inspection and maintenance being carried out at certified service stations;
  • checking the status of inflatable life jackets being used by Pilots;
  • conducting unscheduled training for Pilots of the Pilot Service on observing safety requirements; and
  • circulating to other Pilots the circumstances surrounding this incident.

 

Recommendations

Following the investigation, the company utilizes this incident as a factual case study in future Bridge Team Management courses and senior crew seminars. It is further recommended that emphasis be given to:

  1. reinforcing the Master’s overriding authority and responsibility to make decisions with respect to safety;
  2. the Company’s expectations regarding how Masters should exercise their overriding authority and responsibility during pilotage operations; and
  3. the Company’s expectations regarding how other members of the Bridge Team should best support the Master and Pilot.

 

Explore more herebelow:

RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall

RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fallRMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall
RMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fallRMI investigation: Poor risk assessment linked to Pilot’s fatal fall
Tags: accident reportsfatality onboardlessons learnedMarshall Islandspilotsrisk assessmentsm
Previous Post

SHI and SK Telecom test a 5G-powered ship

Next Post

Fishing vessel runs aground as Captain fell asleep

Related News

AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging
Opinions

AMPI: Seafarers face critical risks in pilot transfer rigging

July 3, 2025
NTSB
Accidents

NTSB Investigation: Fire aboard fishing vessel results in sinking

July 3, 2025
CHIRP
Safety

CHIRP: Annual Digest of Reports and Insight Articles 2024

July 1, 2025
NTSB
Accidents

NTSB shares interim report on fatal ship crash into Brooklyn Bridge

July 1, 2025
IMPA: 85% of non-compliance not reported to port State authorities
Safety

IMPA: 85% of non-compliance not reported to port State authorities

June 30, 2025
lessons learned
Accidents

Lessons learned: ‘Sleeping hygiene’ is critical to safety

June 30, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Anchor Your Health
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA