On the aftermath of the sinking of the fishing vessel ‘Destination’ with loss of six crewmembers, the NTSB issued a safety alert highlighting how icing can dangerously degrade a vessel’s stability.
For 27 days – between January 8 and February 3, 2017 – the crewmembers of the Destination fished for cod near False Pass and Sanak Island, Alaska. The NTSB investigation showed that the vessel likely capsized at night in rough seas and gale force winds due to topside ice accumulation.
Destination was transiting through the Bering Sea to St. Paul Island in heavy freezing spray conditions that were forecasted by the National Weather Service. The vessel and all hands were lost without a mayday call.
During winter months, consult the National Weather Service’s freezing spray forecasts and plan transits and fishing operations accordingly to decrease the risks of hazardous conditions.
Should your vessel be exposed to freezing spray conditions, NTSB recommends the following precautions:
- Decrease the number of pots onboard or other gear above the main deck to reduce the available surface area for accumulating ice. These measures also serve to lower the vessel’s center of gravity, thereby increasing its stability margin prior to encountering icing conditions.
- Cover deck loads/pots with tarps to shed water.
- Lessen exposure to high seas and winds:
- Reduce speed
- Change heading
- Seek shelter, such as a lee behind land mass
- Remove ice manually (break ice).
- Develop procedures and schedules for crewmembers to break ice and navigate during freezing spray conditions.
- Ensure that your vessel is fitted with proper equipment to break accumulated ice.
- Ensure that crews are rested and prepared to operate in freezing spray conditions.
- Understand your vessel’s stability information: Ensure that the vessel is operating below the limits set in the stability information and that the vessel’s arrangement, equipment, and operation closely match the conditions listed in the stability information.
