Accident Reports

SMS not adhered to – investigation of capsized tug finds

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The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has published an investigation report into the capsizing of a tug, revealing that the vessel did not operate under a Safety Management System (SMS), and the crew did not have procedures for identifying or mitigating hazards.

On October 1, 2019, Seaspan ULC deployed the tug Sheena M to tow the loaded wood-chip barge Seaspan 566 from Terminal Forest Products’ facility in Langdale, BC, to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper Mills in Port Mellon, BC. At approximately 1237, the tug along with the barge departed the Terminal Forest Products Continue reading “SMS not adhered to – investigation of capsized tug finds”

Island Queen III: Three safety concerns after bottom contact of passenger vessel issued by TSB

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TSB release report on Island Queen III
TSB release report on Island Queen III

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its investigation report into the bottom contact of the passenger vessel Island Queen III near Whiskey Island, Ontario, in August 2017. In addition, TBS has issued three safety concerns relating to the carriage of lifejackets, the evacuation of passengers during an emergency, and specialized training for crew members who are responsible for managing passengers during an emergency.

In the early afternoon of 8 August 2017, the passenger vessel Island Queen III left port for a planned three-hour cruise in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, sailing out of Kingston, Ontario with 290 people on board. Almost immediately after departing, the vessel encountered three separate fleets of local sailing school dinghies, causing it to deviate from the planned route. As the vessel moved through a narrow portion of the route, it strayed into shallow water and struck bottom, Continue reading “Island Queen III: Three safety concerns after bottom contact of passenger vessel issued by TSB”

Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather

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Transport Malta issues report
Transport Malta issues report

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel Zaira in Marsascala Bay, resulting in death of two fishermen on 4 May 2019. The findings from the investigation show that the vessel sank after flooding of compartments and a loss of stability in heavy weather.

On 4th May, Zaira was heading towards Valletta to seek shelter from inclement weather. The vessel was around 3.5 nautical miles from Valletta, when a high wave from the East caused it to heel heavily to the port side. Eventually, a second wave caused the vessel to heel further to port and she started to take in water through her hull openings. The fishermen lost control of their vessel and had to abandon it.

The combined wind and wave action caused the vessel to drift towards Marsascala Bay, where it eventually Continue reading “Transport Malta: Report issued into the sinking of fishing vessel Zaira in heavy weather”

The Stretch Duck 7 sinking: Initial investigation findings issued by NTSB

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The Stretch Duck 7 is hauled out of the water in 2018 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. St. Louis Post-Dispatch — J.B. Forbes
The Stretch Duck 7 is hauled out of the water in 2018 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. St. Louis Post-Dispatch — J.B. Forbes

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently issued its preliminary findings concerning the tragic events that led to the sinking of the DUKW amphibious passenger boat, “Stretch Duck 7”. NTSB has held a virtual meeting on 28 April to discuss the matter in detail.

On 19 July 2018, at about 1908 central daylight time, a 33-foot-long, modified World War II-era DUKW amphibious passenger vessel, “The Stretch Duck 7” sank during a storm with heavy winds that developed rapidly on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri.

Of the 31 persons that were onboard, there were reported 17 fatalities. As the NTSB reported, the vessel’s operator, Ride the Ducks of Branson continued to operate waterborne tours despite a severe thunderstorm Continue reading “The Stretch Duck 7 sinking: Initial investigation findings issued by NTSB”

St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published

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St Clair - Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com
St Clair – Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the bulk carrier St Clair whilst in layup status at TORCO dock in Maumee River, Toledo, in February 2019. The investigation has highlighted a lack of operating procedures for continuous monitoring of the vessel while in layup.

About 2010 local time on February 16, 2019, a fire was reported on the bulk carrier St Clair while the vessel was laid-up for the winter at the CSX TORCO Iron Ore Terminal (TORCO dock) at the mouth of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. No one was onboard. The fire was extinguished approximately 36 hours Continue reading “St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published”

RMI alerts on fire incidents onboard commercial yachts

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In 2019, four fire incidents occurred onboard Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) registered yachts that resulted in the total constructive loss of the vessel. As a consequence, RMI has shared key areas of concern and best practices.

Two incidents occurred while the yachts were moored, one happened while the vessel was underway, and one while it was in the shipyard. There were no deaths or injuries as a result of any of these fires.

Areas of concern
Although causes of the incidents are different, the RMI investigation findings highlight three major areas of concern:
1. fire prevention;
Continue reading “RMI alerts on fire incidents onboard commercial yachts”

Overpressurization and rupture of cargo tank onboard Fairchem Filly report published

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Overpressurization onboard Fairchem Filly report
Overpressurization onboard Fairchem Filly report

NTSB issued an investigation report on the overpressurization and rupture of a cargo tank on the cargo ship Fairchem Filly while at Houston Ship Channel, in May 2019. Investigators stressed that the vessel and terminal personnel involved were not following procedures related to cargo discharge and nitrogen-blanketing operations.

On 30 May 2019, about 0750 local time, the Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker Fairchem Filly, with a crew of 22, experienced an overpressurization of the number 3 port and starboard cargo tanks while discharging liquid hexene at Vopak Terminal in Deer Park, Texas.

The overpressurization resulted in damage to the number 3 port cargo tank and the tank top (deck). All cargo was contained on board the double-hulled vessel, with no pollution or injuries reported. Damage to Continue reading “Overpressurization and rupture of cargo tank onboard Fairchem Filly report published”

Ariel: Ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line in the engine room caused sinking says report

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NTSB publish report on incident involving Ariel
NTSB publish report on incident involving Ariel

NTSB has published its investigation report about the fire onboard and subsequent sinking of the fishing vessel Ariel, while in Sheep Bay, Alaska, in August 2019. The investigation identified ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line as key cause of the fire.

On August 26, 2019, the fishing vessel Ariel was transiting Sheep Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room. The four crewmembers aboard the Ariel attempted to fight the fire, but they were unsuccessful and abandoned ship into the vessel’s skiff.

The Ariel continued to burn and subsequently sank. Good Samaritan vessels rescued the Continue reading “Ariel: Ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line in the engine room caused sinking says report”

Nordstar: Exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death says AIBN report

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AIBN report on Nordstar
AIBN report on Nordstar

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has published an accident report on the matter of a crew member who died on board the factory trawler Nordstar relating to the with preparations for cleaning a silage tank.

The factory trawler Nordstar was on its way to Ålesund after fishing in international waters west of the Reykjanes Ridge. The vessel was to be made ready for fishing for another type of fish (from redfish to white fish) during the voyage, and the crew had finished cleaning the factory on the morning of 10 June 2018.

Later in the morning, the skipper instructed the factory supervisor to prepare the silage tanks for cleaning. This meant flushing the tanks by filling them with seawater and emptying them several times, before lowering a fan (not explosion proof) into the tank to blow in fresh air and lead air out of the tank via the attached plastic hose. According to the skipper, he had given instructions that the fan was to be lowered Continue reading “Nordstar: Exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death says AIBN report”

Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report

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AIBN report on Rohav
AIBN report on Rohav

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has published its report about the incident on 10 September 2018, when a crew member died in an work related accident on board Rohav LLUZ in Bergsfjorden, Senja.

On Monday 10 September 2018 Rohav had just been unloaded and was waiting for instructions for the subsequent order. In the meantime, the motorman was to prepare the holds for new cargo.

Before preparing the hold, he planned to replace a hose in the hydraulic system that operated the cargo hold hatch. When the motorman disconnected the hose, the oil leaked and the hydraulic pressure dropped, Continue reading “Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report”

MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report

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Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the total loss of power of the bulk carrier MV Leopold LD following the failure of the auxiliary engines and the emergency generator while underway in March 2019. The investigation identified lack of crew familiarization with the correct operation of the compensation damping tank.

MV Leopold LD was en route from the port of Saldanha Bay, South Africa, to Hamburg, Germany, carrying iron ore. On 14 March 2019, the only running Continue reading “MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report”

Jet boat accident stresses need of proper maintenance of mechanical equipment highlights report

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TAIC report on the jet boat 'Discovery 2'
TAIC report on the jet boat ‘Discovery 2’

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published its accident report on the contact of the jet boat ‘Discovery 2’ with Skippers Canyon wall while operating on the Shotover River in February 2019. Passengers onboard were injured. The incident highlighted that jet boating is a high-risk activity that leaves very little margin for error when navigating at high speeds in narrow channels and rivers.

On 23 February 2019, the commercial jet boat Discovery 2 was operating on the Shotover River in the vicinity of Skippers Canyon with nine passengers onboard. The boat was on its return leg when the driver was required to negotiate a series of bends in a section of the river about 10 metres wide. Approaching a left-hand bend, Continue reading “Jet boat accident stresses need of proper maintenance of mechanical equipment highlights report”

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