UK MAIB

Lessons learned: Master injured after falling into opened hatch

In its latest Safety Digest, the UK MAIB describes an accident of a Master’s injury onboard a tug, which was caused by miscommunication and not proper sharing of information. The Master fell through a hatch which was open while contractors were conducting operations.

The incident

A tug was secured alongside undergoing scheduled maintenance when contractors arrived to start some work on the fire alarm system.

The tug’s regular crew were not onboard so an AB from a different tug of the same company...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-master-injured-after-falling-into-opened-hatch/

Skipper unable to slow down vessel collides with wind turbine tower

In the latest edition of Safety Digest, UK MAIB focuses on a collision, when a crew transfer vessel collided with a wind turbine power, as the pitch control rod on the starboard controllable pitch propeller system was stuck, making the skippers attempts to slow down the vessel unsuccessful.

The Incident

A twin-screw, aluminium-hulled crew transfer vessel was approaching a wind turbine tower.

In light of this, the skipper placed both both engine control levers to astern in order to slow down the...

https://safety4sea.com/skipper-unable-to-slow-down-vessel-collides-with-wind-turbine-tower/

Lessons Learned: Maintenance on waste water systems must be risk assessed

In the latest edition of Safety Digest, UK MAIB analyzes the hazards behind grey water exposure and its impact on one’s health, discussing  a grey water incident that took part onboard a ro-ro ferry where the crewmembers undertaking the task were taken to the hospital vomiting.

The Incident

The crewmembers on a ro-ro ferry were ordered to replace a part of pipework on the vessel’s aft waste water system. The pipework that needed to be replaced contained grey water, untreated from the outlets of...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-maintenance-on-waste-water-systems-must-be-fully-risk-assessed/

Lessons learned: Big ships in channels leave little margin for error

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB analyzes the grounding of a ship while navigating in a narrow, buoyed channel. The incident highlighted issues associated with lack of accurate tidal stream data and poor information exchange.

The incident

While approaching a port, a large bulk carrier headed towards a narrow, 100m wide channel at a speed of 4kts with the master, second mate, a helmsman and two harbour pilots on the bridge.  None of the officers had visited the port before.

The pilots had...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-big-ships-in-channels-leave-little-margin-for-error/

Lessons learned: Fatal fall linked to poor stevedoring practices

The UK MAIB shared valuable lessons learned from a fatal fall of a bosun from a deck cargo during discharging operations, which stressed issues surrounding poor stevedoring practices. During this discharge operation, the vessel’s crew had witnessed a series of poor safety practices by stevedores, MAIB noted.

The incident

A bulk carrier was at anchor and discharging its cargo of sawn timber to barges.

During the sea passage, the deck cargo had been secured by top-over lashings, which were removed...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-fatal-fall-linked-to-poor-stevedoring-practices/

Lessons learned: Good visibility not enough to prevent collision

The UK MAIB analyzed a case of a collision between a Ro-Ro passenger ferry and a motor cruiser, which was linked to insufficient lookout, despite fine weather and good visibility. Even in such conditions, other vessels can be easily missed if nobody is looking out for them, MAIB underlined.

The incident

On an early autumn afternoon, in good weather, a Ro-Ro passenger ferry started a routine short passage in a usually busy waterway.

The ferry’s master and OOW, both familiar with the ferry and the...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-good-visibility-not-enough-to-prevent-collision/

Lessons learned: Heavy contact with quay while berthing

In its latest Safety Digest, UK MAIB describes a case of a container ship allision with the quay while berthing which injured ten people and caused significant damage. The investigation identified a lack of shared understanding between the bridge team and the pilot, as well as inefficient tugboat support.

The incident

A fully laden 363-meters container ship was arriving in port. When the pilot arrived on the bridge, he requested full ahead.

The master-pilot exchange was brief and there was no...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-heavy-contact-with-quay-while-berthing/

Grounding of general cargo vessel

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch, issued an investigation report concerning the grounding of the cargo vessel Priscilla in Pentland Skerries, Pentland Firth, Scotland in 18 July 2018. Although the grounding caused significant hull damage, there was no pollution or injury.

The incident

The Netherlands-registered general cargo vessel Priscilla grounded on Pentland Skerries in the eastern entrance of Pentland Firth in Scotland at 04:43 on 18 July 2018. The grounding caused a substantial...

https://safety4sea.com/grounding-of-general-cargo-vessel/

Safety Digest 2019’s second edition launched

The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued its second edition of Safety Digest for 2019, presenting the lessons learned from a variety of marine accidents, highlighting the key factors that cause an accident, from weather conditions to the human error.

This issue of Safety Digest includes lessons learned from maritime accidents.

In its introduction, Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents comments that there is always something new to learn in the Safety Digest. Also, as...

https://safety4sea.com/safety-digest-2019s-second-edition-launched/

Grounded bulk carrier off Falmouth Bay had no insurance

The UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the grounding of bulk carrier ‘Kuzma Minin’ in Falmouth Bay, in December 2018. The report highlights the unexpected pressures caused during salvage efforts due to the vessel’s lack of P&I insurance.

Although the movement towards the shore was quickly detected by the bridge watchkeeper, the actions taken to proceed to sea were interrupted by the anchor becoming fouled by a discarded length of anchor chain. As focus was turned to clearing the anchor,...

https://safety4sea.com/grounded-bulk-carrier-off-falmouth-bay-had-no-insurance/

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