Watch: LNG vessel ran aground in Crete

Gaslog Saratoga, a Bermuda flagged LNG vessel, grounded on the 10th of November on Dermata bay in Heraklion, Crete. The coastguard came to the rescue to help all the crew members immediately. Heraklion’s Hellenic Coastguard commanded the non departure of the LNG vessel until it was given a class certification addressing its security to sail.

The LNG vessel, Gaslog Saratoga, began its voyage from Sabine Pass Port, USA and was heading to Turkey carrying 150.080 M3 LNG. The grounding of the vessel,...

https://safety4sea.com/watch-lng-vessel-ran-aground-in-crete/

Use of drugs on board can lead to serious accidents

UK MAIB published this accident report where a deckhand was carried away from a small potter by a 2kts tidal stream. The deckhand jumped into the water to cut the backline of a string of pots that had fouled the starboard propeller, despite the fact that the vessel’s skipper had arranged for a nearby fishing vessel to assist.

The incident

The accident was caused because the back of a string of pots entwined to the starboard propeller of a small potter while shooting away. That was a cause for the...

https://safety4sea.com/use-of-drugs-on-board-can-lead-to-serious-accidents/

Lessons learned: A PFD or lifejacket is useless unless worn

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB analyzed an accident concerning an open boat that was upturned in the sea. The skipper was fortunate enough to escape without using a life vessel, although he was not wearing his lifejacket, as he was carrying a waterproof mobile phone. MAIB highlighted that automatic cut-offs and other such devices should be properly maintained and tested in order to be efficient.

The incident

The skipper of a 5m open boat launched from the beach to navigate to his pots. The...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-a-pfd-or-lifejacket-is-useless-unless-worn/

Inappropriate modification leads to accident

UK MAIB informed of a pressure accident onboard a multicat vessel. Operators carried out an unrecorded modification to the supply fan flap support brackets, without consulting the shipbuilder, which led two crew members to be sucked into the engine room with severe force. MAIB advised that any modifications need to consider all aspects of the application being altered.

The incident

A multi-cat vessel was transiting between two Scottish ports when the engine room supply fan flaps closed. The...

https://safety4sea.com/inappropriate-modification-leads-to-accident/

Mechanical linkages can lead to accidents when not checked

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB published a report concerning a passenger vessel that had trouble using its engines due to rare checking of mechanical linkages; as a result it hit the pier many times and grounded. Fortunately, all passengers were uninjured and no major damage was caused to the vessel.

The incident

A passenger ship with 37 people on board was heading close to a pier. The captain commanded astern movement on main propulsion engines while the vessel’s speed was 4.5kts ahead....

https://safety4sea.com/mechanical-linkages-can-lead-to-accidents-when-not-checked/

Manoeuvring vessels in confined waters is a hazardous activity

engine room log

In its latest Safety Digest, the UK MAIB shared the events of an incident involving a historic vessel which struck the dock wall after chief engineer’s mistake to operate the engines ahead instead of astern. MAIB noted that maintaining vigilance without distractions is vital when operating propulsion machinery manually.

The incident

It was a fine summer’s day and a historic passenger vessel was about departure from harbour, but struck the dock wall when the engines were mistakenly operated ahead...

https://safety4sea.com/manoeuvring-vessels-in-confined-waters-is-a-hazardous-activity/

Overwhelmed bilge pump leads to sinking

UK MAIB analyzed the sinking of a fishing vessel as its bilge pump was overwhelmed by the volume of water ingress. Notable is that the vessel was certified with most recent surveys revealing no areas of concern. MAIB highlighted that the two men onboard were saved as they had enough time to collect and don their emergency use lifejackets.

The incident

At early dawn, a skipper and his crewman set sail in their 10 metre long wooden clinker-built fishing vessel from their home port on the north-east...

https://safety4sea.com/overwhelmed-bilge-pump-leads-to-sinking/

Lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017

The NTSB issued its ‘Safer Seas‘ annual report providing an overview of key lessons to be learned from the most major maritime casualties, noting that many of the issues noted in last year’s reports were recurring topics, such as fatigue, poor bridge resource management, and distraction. The 41 marine accidents included in the report involved allisions, capsizings, collisions, fires, explosions, flooding, groundings, and equipment damage, resulting in loss of life, injuries, and significant...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-from-us-maritime-casualties-in-2017/