Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit has published an investigation report into the loss of propulsion and subsequent grounding of the Maltese-registered ro-ro cargo vessel Mazarine, on Wolf Rock off Land’s End, UK on 10 July 2023.
At about 1040, the Maltese-registered, ro-ro cargo vessel, Mazarine ran aground on Wolf Rock, UK. The vessel sustained structural damage to the underwater section of the hull. In addition to the hull perforations, several deformations were observed, mostly on the port side.
The Transport Malta investigation determined that the ship ran aground following the failure of an elbow fitted on the vessel’s main engine lubricating oil system, leading to the loss of a significant amount of lubricating oil and a drop in the main engine lubrication oil pressure. The safety investigation identified how the engine-room crew members made two desperate attempts to restore the main engine’s lubricating oil system, working under significant time pressure given the vessel’s proximity to the rocks. This safety investigation report makes two recommendations to the Company and the engine manufacturer.
Immediate cause of the accident
– It was not excluded that the initial cause of the pipe elbow failure was fatigue due to alternating stresses, possibly caused by high levels of vibrations and / or bending forces resulting from the degradation of the flexible rubber bellow;
– The loss of the main engine LO pressure was the cause of loss of propulsion, which eventually led to the grounding, after the vessel lost headway.
Conditions and other safety factors
– The subsequent failures were due to failure of the attempted resin compound repair and the poor repair welding of the lamellar cast iron under demanding conditions;
– The inability to either drop the anchor (due to the water depth), or lay out the cable in a controlled manner (due to the rate of drift), significantly reduced the likelihood of the anchor holding;
– A spare pipe was not available on board;
– The two attempts to repair the LO pipe were made under intense working conditions;
– Surface preparation for the weld was very challenging and LO may have been present during the repair weld
Other findings
– The actions concerning the lights, shapes, and the AIS, that were then taken to show that the vessel was NUC, were timely in warning Ferro and allowing Falmouth Coastguard to notice the situation;
– The subsequent actions taken immediately prior to, during, and following the grounding on Wolf Rock with respect to the safety of the passengers and crew, and the assessment and control of the damage were timely and successful;
– The master considered using both anchors, but opted not to because he was concerned of the possibility of the anchor cables twisting and becoming
fouled;
– A technical fault on the VDR prevented the successful downloading of the data.
Recommendations
In view of the conclusions reached and taking into consideration the safety actions taken during the safety investigation, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (NL) BV is recommended to investigate the level of vibration in the LO pipe elbow and take corrective action if the findings so warrant.
MAK is recommended to issue a service bulletin to engine operators to carry out non-destructive testing (NDT) on similar pipes to check for cracks.
Download the full report: Mazarine Investigation Report
