SAFETY4SEA Focus - Q1 2018

safety4sea.com 10 SAFETY 4SEA I issue 01 I Q1 2018 SAFETY SCENARIO The incident A fter discharging cargo and prior departing port for the upcoming voyage, the Navigation Officer of a bulk carrier programmed all waypoints into electronic chart and updated the paper charts according to the planned route. During the passage plotting, Master expressed his concerns for shallow depths within the track area. However, even though his concerns were incorporated, the plan was not shown to him for confirmation. Although charts in use were updated and the ship’s ECDIS was approved as per IMO standard, electronic charts were not as per the IHO S.57 standard and the ECS used in the system required further parameters. Additionally, the port chart was still in use on ECDIS display, though outdated. A delay due to a change in the discharging schedule put some pressure to Master regarding the arrival time to next port, as well as its berthing position. Bridge team was formed by Master, Navigation Officer and helmsman and the vessel departed at night with clear weather and about 7 miles visibility outbound in a buoyed channel. No further lookout was stationed, as per company’s SMS. Just after the vessel cleared port and joined the buoyed channel the pilot left. The helm was on man- ual steering and the Navigation Officer monitored ARPA radar and electronic chart, on which he had the radar overlay projected. He was also plotting ship’s position on the paper chart every six minutes, as per SMS fixing intervals. The Master was controlling the ship’s movements based on his own opinion; he navigated near the limit and out the buoyed channel, because he was concerned about a shallow area close to vessel’s track. He, then, altered to starboard to stay clear of a buoy that was close to another shallow area. The ship came close to the buoy and subsequently it was too late to turn back into the channel. The VTS operator unsuccessfully tried to contact with the vessel after noticing the vessel was hea- ding to shallow waters. Several minutes later the Navigation Officer responded to the warnings for the vessel’s track. However, the Master thought they were further away to the shallow area that he had initially been concerned about. He looked the electronic chart which showed clear water, so he decided to leave the buoy to port and then re-join buoyed route. The Master ignored the VTS warnings which clearly showed ground just in front of vessel. He didn’t even ask for other’s recommendation. Eventually, some minutes later the vessel ran aground on charted shallow water area, causing several hull damages. Inadequate Bridge management supported by non approved electronic charts leads to grounding Unsafe waters Unsafe waters Grounding Position Planned Track Captain’s chosen Track Area of Captain’s concern