Japan Transport Safety Board published an accident investigation concerning a cargo ship that was un-manoeuvrable due to lack of handling its anchor. By having only one anchor, the vessel drifted in the current and collided with a bulk carrier, resulting to both vessels having damages. Yet, there were no injuries reported.
The Incident
The cargo ship Asian Beauty, while it was anchored with a single anchor, dragged anchor. Although the anchor was heaved up and released again, the vessel could not be helped from becoming un-manoeuverable.
Consequently, Asian Beauty drifted in the current, at about 0608 hours, on August 7, 2017. As a result, the vessel collided with Zeus, a liquefied gas bulk carrier.
Asian Beauty suffered a dent to her front port, whereas Zeus suffered a dent on her starboard side bow.
Probable Causes
According to the report:
- It is probable that, when the storm warning was issued in SETO NAI KAI, including off the north coast of Shikoku, due to incoming Typhoon 5, Asian Beauty dragged anchor while it was anchored with a single anchor, waiting at Takuma Port for its cargo.
- Master of the vessel, instead of evacuating to a safe area, heaved up the anchor and returned to the anchoring area at 275o of and about 1,500m from the Mitamaiwa light beacon, which was directed by an agency of Asian Beauty, to reset the anchor, but that didn’t work.
- It was probable that Master of Asian Beauty returned to the position 275o of and about 1,500m from the Mitamaiwa light beacon, which was directed by an agency of vessel, to retry anchoring instead of evacuating to a safe area because he didn’t understand anchoring, by itself, would not provide a sufficient escape from the adverse weather.
- It was probable that Asian Beauty dragged anchor because, even though Master of the vessel received information about the predicted stormy weather due to incoming Typhoon 5, he didn’t know the required length of anchor chain extension nor measures against strong wind and continued to be anchored with single anchor
- In the area crowded with many other anchored ships, the Master had retried to anchor the vessel, but he was unsuccessful. So, he used the engine from dead slow ahead to slow ahead, in a low load operation. It is probable that as a result, Asian Beauty lost control of its attitude and became un-maneuverable.
Actions Taken
Accordingly, implementation of the following measures is necessary for Company A to prevent occurrence of a similar accident.
When adverse weather is expected, such as a typhoon, crews should prepare to anchor securely by understanding the necessary amount of chain extension for adverse weather and measures to take in case of a strong wind
Moreover, all company ships should be instructed to move the ship to safety in an emergency situation.
Under adverse weather, places of refuge for ships become crowded with many ships. Consequently, large ships have difficulty securing enough distance between other ships. This is why ships should actively collect information about other safe places to evacuate.
For more information, you may click on the PDF herebelow
