The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued an investigation report on the grounding of the bulk carrier ‘Orient Centaur’, which lost power while transiting a channel from the Port of Weipa, in November 2017. This incident highlighted gaps in the port’s risk plans, ATSB noted.
The Accident Investigation Board of Norway issued its accident report, focusing on the Norwegian cruise vessel “Viking Sky”, which engines failed during a storm in the Norwegian sea, resulting to the vessel drifting in rough waters in the Norwegian Sea to within 100 meters of land.
Transport Malta’s MSIU issued an investigation report on a fatality and another serious injury of two crew members onboard the Maltese registered bulk carrier MV Balgarka, while involved in repairs in dry-docking at the Bulyard Shipyard, Bulgaria, in October 2018.
In its latest issue, CHIRP focuses on an incident when a tanker in ballast had to rapidly disembark because of bad weather, but eventually collided with a channel buoy, after the pilot left the bridge. CHIRP concluded that the pilot should hand over the conn in a safe navigational position with ample time for the next manoeuvre.
The National Transportation Safety Board issued an accident report concerning the cruise ship “Carnival Horizon”, which in attempts to maneuvre its entrance into berth no. 2 at Manhattan Cruise Terminal’s Pier 88 in New York City, New York, its bow struck the southwest corner of adjacent Pier 90.
In the November issue of its Monthly Safety Scenario, the Swedish Club focuses on a bulk’s carrier flood inside the engine room. The vessel was loaded with steel cargo in China and was travelling to the Middle East. Eventually, due to an electrical issue it ended up flooding.
The US National Transportation Safety Board published its report on the liftboat Ram XVIII, that overturned in the Gulf of Mexico, on November 18. Due to the incident, three personnel suffered minor injuries, while about 1,000 gallons of hydraulic oil were released. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss at an estimated $1,140,000.
During the last SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum, Mr. Elias Psyllos, Vice President Commercial and Risk Management, T&T Salvage, shared lessons learned from his experience in emergency response incidents. Beginning his presentation with key salvage concepts, he provided the main first steps operators need to follow in the initial phase of a response. Experts’ presence on site, a proper salvage plan and salvage engineering are vital, he stressed, to verify what savors are doing is right.
In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB focuses on how a mooring line from a ferry, can easily be tangled in the propeller, without the right communication between the ship personnel and the shore. Based on this accident, MAIB advises to always follow the directions of the safety system and keep in mind that routine operations allow safe practices to be tested.
UK MAIB has published its report on the UK registered charter yacht, Tyger of London, whose keel failed suddenly on 7 December 2017 and the yacht capsized. The crew, all wearing lifejackets, were thrown into the water and rescued by the British Army yacht, St Barbara V.
