Fixed and Floating Object Damage Case Study

Introduction

North’s loss prevention guide Rocks and Hard Places: How to Avoid Them includes a series of case studies intended to generate discussion about circumstances surrounding grounding and fixed and floating object damage incidents. Further case studies will be published in Signals from time to time and below is the latest of them. Each case study is set out as simply as possible, with the minimum information necessary to describe a situation. The case studies ask a number of questions but answers are not provided. The case studies are intended to promote wide-ranging discussions on the avoidance of groundings and damage to property.

Scenario

A cargo vessel was departing from port with a full bridge team present, a pilot on board and a single tug made fast aft. After clearing the berth, the tug was let go and planned to follow the vessel until clear. The vessel was required to make a tight turn to starboard to enter the channel to pass through the breakwaters. The pilot gave instructions for the speed and manoeuvring of the vessel. Shortly after starting the turn, the port bow of the vessel made contact with the corner of the jetty resulting in structural damage.

Questions

 1. What factors may have contributed to this incident?

 2. What steps could have been taken on board to prevent this incident from occurring?

 3. What steps could the Company take to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future?

Further Information

Members can obtain electronic versions of North’s loss prevention guide Collisions: How to Avoid Them by e-mailing loss.prevention@nepia.com

To obtain hard copies of North’s guides, please download the loss prevention order form from our website: www.nepia.com/lp-publications