ATSB published its final report into the cargo ship ‘Madang Coast’ impacting a wharf at the Port of Townsville. The risk management processes were not sufficiently mature nor resilient enough to identify and mitigate risks in pilotage services. The incident has led to the updating and full implementation of a safety management system, in order to better identify risks and how to mitigate them.
The Government of Luxembourg’s AET issued a report on the fatal occupational accident on the chemical oil tanker Nabucco on 26 June 2017. The Chief Officer was working alone on the platform of the accommodation ladder, when he fell between the vessel and the quay into the water.
The BSEE issued an investigation report on the fire onboard a Petrobras drillship during pipe handling operations in December 2017, which resulted in one fatality. The report identified poor compliance with procedures and lack of understanding for the drill floor zone areas during operations as key causes of the accident.
The NTSB issued an investigation report on the engine room fire and explosion onboard the towing vessel ‘J.W. Herron’ on Big Bayou Canot near Mobile, Alabama in December 2017. The report identified leaking lube oil from a propulsion diesel engine hose or tubing fitting that was ignited off an exposed hot engine surface, as the key cause of the accident.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an investigation report on the sinking of the towing vessel ‘Ricky Robinson’ on the Lower Mississippi River, in December 2017, which caused death of the two crewmen onboard, oil discharge and significant damage of the vessel.
Transport Malta’s MSIU issued an investigation report into the grounding of the Togo-registered oil tanker ‘Hephaestus’ in February 2018, after being exposed at anchor for several days in deteriorating weather conditions. The report highlighted lack of visible leadership and commitment towards safety from the company.
The UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the failure of a throw bag rescue line during a capsize drill on a rowing boat in Widnes, UK, in March 2018. The incident reiterated that, as throw bags are not considered safety or lifesaving equipment, there is no requirement to manufacture them to a specific safety or quality standard.
Transport Malta’s MSIU issued an investigation report on the boiler furnace blowback on the container ship ‘New Hampshire Trader’ which caused injuries to two crew members, about 30 nautical miles from Qingdao Pilot Station, on 31 January 2018.
ATSB presented its report regarding the water ingress into the steering gear compartment onboard Goliath, off Tasmania, in March 2018. According to the report, the request to close the after peak tank ballast line valves was not actioned as expected. This caused an undetected filling of the after peak tank during ballasting operations.
UK MAIB published its report on the grounding of the general cargo vessel Celtica Hav. The vessel grounded on 27 March 2018 on a stone training wall in the approach channel to the River Neath, Wales. Celtica Hav was quickly re-floated and manoeuvred clear of the training wall. It sustained shell plate damage to the bottom of its hull, causing water ingress to some ballast tanks and flooding in the engine room.
