UK MAIB issues report on vessel's contact with Tower Bridge

UK MAIB issues report on vessel’s contact with Tower Bridge

Lessons learnt

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued the report on the contact of the passenger vessel Millennium Diamond with Tower Bridge, London.

On 4 June 2014 the passenger vessel Millennium Diamond made contact with Tower Bridge, London while on passage from Greenwich to Tower Pier, with 126 passengers and 6 crew on board. Ten passengers and crew were injured and the vessel’s hull was damaged. The vessel was approaching the bridge when a VHF broadcast from London VTS informed river users that Tower Pier had been temporarily closed. The closure occurred an hour earlier than previously advertised by the harbour authority and the officer in the wheelhouse of Millennium Diamond replayed the VHF message to confirm the details, while also moving the helm to port, towards the south bank of the river.

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While listening to the replay, which lasted 14 seconds, the officer was distracted from keeping a proper lookout and did not notice that the vessel had swung towards the Tower Bridge before it was too late to prevent the accident.

A recommendation has been made to the vessel’s owner to review the ergonomics of wheelhouse equipment to reduce the possibility of the helmsman becoming distracted when the vessel is on passage.

Conclusions

The mate became distracted while replaying a VHF message about the closure of Tower Pier.

The layout of wheelhouse equipment resulted in the mate not maintaining a proper lookout while replaying the VHF message.

No Public Address announcement was made as activating the microphone did not automatically take priority over pre-recorded broadcasts.

The vessel’s proximity to Tower Bridge and the speed of encounter was such that there was insufficient time in which to prevent the contact once the vessel had veered off course.

There was no agreed holding area for the vessel to use when Tower Pier was temporarily closed.

The syllabus for the Boatmasters’ licence examination did not test a candidate’s understanding of the risks arising from distraction and the proximity of hazards and the speed of encounter of vessels in the confined waters of the river.

The Honourable Artillery Company did not inform the PLA that the time of the gun salute had been changed.

Unsecured storage equipment and drinks cans caused injuries to crew members when they became dislodged as a result of the contact.

Recommendations

City Cruises plc is recommended to:

Complete the intended actions listed in its investigation report in a timely manner.

Undertake a thorough review of the wheelhouse equipment layout on Millennium Diamond to ensure its use does not create distraction and prevent its officers from conning the vessel safely.

The Port of London Authority is recommended to:

Promote the inclusion of potential holding areas in the port passage plans of commercial vessels operating in the Thames that may be used in the event of temporary pier closures.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is recommended to:

Include in the Boatmasters’ Licence generic syllabus a requirement for candidates to demonstrate an awareness of the risks of distraction and the speed with which unsafe conditions can develop on inland waterways and in harbours.

Further information may be found by reading relevant UK MAIB report by clicking on the image below: