UK MAIB Report No 14/2013
UK MAIB has issued investigation report of the grounding of MV Beaumont, happened on December 12, 2012. Thedry cargo vessel ran agroundon Cabo Negro on the north Spanishcoast while on passage from La Coruñato Avilés. At the timeof the grounding she was proceeding atfull speed, and the officer of the watch(OOW) was asleep.
According to the report, an inspection of the vessel’s internalcompartments quickly established that,despite being driven hard agroundon a rocky ledge, there was nobreach of the hull. Nine hours later,with the assistance of a salvage tug,Beaumont was successfully refloatedand continued to Avilés under her ownpower, where she was further inspectedbefore departing for a repair yard.
The MAIB investigation identified thatthe OOW had fallen asleep soon aftersending his night lookout off the bridge.Available bridge resources, that couldhave alerted the crew and/or awoken asleeping OOW were not used, resultingin Beaumont steaming at 11.5 knots withno-one in control on the bridge for overan hour.
The incident report reveals the following conlcusions:
- The chief officer fell asleep on watch as aresult of insufficient stimulation and probablefatigue following a change of work and restpattern.
- There was no lookout on the bridge, asrequired during the hours of darkness,allowing the chief officer to fall asleepunnoticed.
- It was not unusual for lookouts to bedismissed from the bridge during the hours ofdarkness.
- By including the AB/cook on the look-outduty roster, there would have been sufficientmanpower for a dedicated lookout to bemaintained during the hours of darkness,whilst ensuring personnel did not workexcessive hours.
- Beaumont’s master did not exercise hisoverriding authority for the safety of the vesselto delay sailing from La Coruña until hiswatchkeepers and lookouts were adequatelyrested.
- Navigational aids were not used effectivelyto ensure a vigilant and effective watch wasmaintained at all times.
- The vessel was equipped with a BNWAS.However the ship’s managers did not requirethat this equipment was used at sea andit was seldom, if ever used by the bridgewatchkeepers
Find more information by clicking at UK MAIB investigation report
Source: UK MAIB
