Tag: UK MAIB

Safety Digest 2/2015 including lessons learned from maritime accidents The UK MAIB has announced the publication of the second issued for 2015 of its Safety Digest which includes lessons learned from maritime accidents.This latest edition of the Safety Digest contains 25 articles about mariners who have had a bad day at the office sometimes with tragic consequences. The sole purpose of the Safety Digest is to prevent similar accidents from happening again.Steve Clinch, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents states:'' When you are reading the articles, please take time to consider how you might have avoided the problems they describe. Better still, use the opportunity to discuss the articles with your shipmates or colleagues. The safety lessons listed at the end of each article are not necessarily exhaustive, you may identify others, and discussion of such issues is an excellent way of improving safety awareness.''''I draw your attention to the MAIB Safety Bulletin at Appendix C. Although the accident which prompted the Bulletin related to the use of mooring ropes used mainly by larger commercial vessels, many of the safety lessons are pertinent to all sectors and vessel sizes. Handling of mooring ropes is a task that seafarers do on a ...

UK MAIB issued a combined report on the grounding and flooding of the ro-ro ferry Commodore Clipper in the approaches to St Peter Port, Guernsey

report on the investigations ofTwo fatalities connected with theoperation of the workboatGPS Battler

1270 accidents were reported to MAIB in 2014 (Image Credit: US Coast Guard)UK MAIB issued its Annual Report highlighting the work of the branch during 2014.In 2014 1270 accidents (casualties and incidents) were reported to MAIB, these involved 1470 vessels. 33 of these accidents involved only non-commercial vessels, 424 were occupational accidents that did not involve any actual or potential casualty to a vessel. There were 822 accidents involving 953 commercial vessels that involved actual or potential casualties to vessels.All commercial vessels reported to MAIB in 2014For the fifth year in succession no UK merchant vessels of >100gt were lost. The overall accident rate for UK merchant vessels >100gt was unchanged from 2013 at 88 per 1000 vessels. There were no crew deaths on UK merchant vessels >100gt, and a review of available records from the last 50 years suggests this has never happened before. The average number of deaths over the last 10 years is 4 per year.Six small UK vessels (<100gt) were lost in 2014 and five crew lost their lives. Four of these were lost in a single accident when the yacht Cheeki Rafiki suffered a detached keel and capsized in the North Atlantic.Twelve commercial fishing vessels ...

Lessons learned The UK MAIB has issued Safety Bulletin regarding mooring line failure on board LNG carrier Zarga which resulted in serious injury.The accidentOn 2 March 2015, a deck officer on board the LNG tanker, Zarga, suffered severe head injuries when he was struck by a mooring line that parted during a berthing operation at the South Hook LNG terminal, Milford Haven. The officer, who was in charge of the vessel's forward mooring party, was airlifted to a specialist head injuries trauma unit for emergency surgery.Zarga was declared all fast alongside about 40 minutes prior to the accident and the attending tugs were let go. The vessel subsequently moved out of position in the gusty wind conditions during which time the mooring teams were fitting chafing guards to the lines. As the tugs had already been released, the master instructed the officer in charge (OIC) of the forward mooring party to tension the forward spring lines to warp Zarga back into the correct position. The OIC positioned himself aft of the forward springs' port-shoulder roller fairlead , and positioned a second crewman forward of him in order to relay his orders to the winch operator. As the winch operator attempted ...

UK MAIB issued a report on the grounding of the general cargo ship Vectis Eagle Gijon, Spain on 30 November 2014

UK MAIB issued a report on the collision between MV Orakai and FVMargriet North Hinder Junction, North Sea on 21 December, 2014

The UK MAIB has issued a Safety Bulletin regarding the mooring line failure on board LNG tanker Zarga

Inexperienced personnel must be briefed and properly supervised

Lessons learned UK MAIB has published its first issue of its Safety Digest earlier this year including lessons learned from maritime accidents. One case uses two examples where high sided Ro-Ro vessels were berthed alongside in strong winds and explains which precautions should be taken in such conditions.Vessel 1 A large high sided ro-ro vessel was berthed alongside in strong winds at a busy European port. The master had decided to use four headlines, four stern lines, two forward spring lines and two aft spring lines to keep the vessel secure alongside during cargo operations, a decision he based on the weather forecast available at the time of arrival.The strong offshore winds were beam on to the vessel, causing significant loading on the vessel's mooring lines. As cargo operations progressed the wind began to increase, and gust to 42 knots, which caused all four stern lines, the two aft spring lines and one forward spring line to part, and the stern to veer quickly off the berth. This caused damage to the stern ramp, and the vessel to swing across the river and ground on the opposite bank.The crew were able to close the stern ramp to prevent any further ...