MRM Case

Ragna Gorthon

The grounding of MV Ragna Gorthon, in the approach to Piteå, Sweden, on the 16th of August, 1986.
Source: Protocol from the court of inquiry, district-court of Malmö, 1986 TK93
 MRM Case – Ragna Gorthon 1

MRM Case – Ragna Gorthon

The MV Ragna Gorthon, LOA 120 m, 4116 GRT, was on a ballast voyage from Husum, Germany,
to Haraholmen (Piteå), Sweden. This was a regular voyage for the vessel, the master had himself
done the trip more than 150 times. The second officer had a vacancy employment for six weeks,
which was to end on arrival in Haraholmen. He had never passed the area of the grounding
before.

The weather on the occasion was variable wind, force 1, calm sea and good visibility.

The vessel was without pilot, due to the fact that the master had a pilot-licence for this vessel
and in these waters.

When passing Nygrån light at 0113 (all times local), the master came on the bridge. On the
bridge was the officer on watch -the second officer- and an able seaman. The second officer
informed the master of their present position on the chart, and on the radar. The master did not
take command or act as pilot. He let the officer continue as responsible for the navigation.
Shortly after the master had arrived on the bridge, the second officer switched off the automatic
steering, and posted the able seaman at the wheel. The master walked from side to side,
checking that the vessel was in the correct sectors of the various lighthouses. With the bridge in
the forward part, it is difficult to determine the true heading from another position than that of
the helmsman.

At 0145, when Ragna Gorthon passed Leskär light, the second officer became uncertain. He
made a heading of 346°, which would, and also did, lead him onto Lönngrund. He sensed that
something was wrong, although they were in the white sector of the next light, Renöragrund. He
called the attention of the master, and informed him of their position and heading. The master
checked the radar and chart, but did not take any action. Instead he walked to the starboard
side of the bridge to make a wakeup call to the chief engineer.

Meanwhile the second officers attention was drawn to a radar echo, close on the starboard side.
He thought it might be a tow of timber, being adrift. Trying to determine what it was with his
binoculars, he did not notice that Renöragrund light changed from white to green. The “timber”
was in fact some submerged rocks, visible due to the low water level (46 centimetres below
mean water). When the master returned from the wakeup call, he noticed the dark shape
ahead.

He reached for his binoculars, but could not see what it was. The master called “Come to port”
to the helmsman, and ran to the port side to switch on the searchlight. When it from the beam
of the searchlight became clear what was happening, the master reached for the engine
command. At the same time, as he pulled the lever, at 0153, they ran aground at a speed of
fourteen knots, approximately two cables east of the intended track.

In terms of MRM, what caused the grounding?

MRM Workbook, Case Material

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 MRM Case – Ragna Gorthon 2

Ragna Gorthon case

MRM Workbook, Case Material

© 2014 ALL Academy International AB. All Rights Reserved.