LESSONS LEARNED FROM INCIDENT INVESTIGATION

ID: AS/057/2019 Contact with uncharted obstruction/shallows

Incident On 31-Aug-2019, the vessel departed from the port of Greenville, Liberia under pilotage.
Description She was partly loaded with a draft of 7.10m even keel. Port had no tugs available to assist
(What happened): during manoeuver.
There is no ENC available for this port. Therefore, the vessel was using raster charts on her
ECDIS. As per the charted information, the channel is dredged to 9.0m. However, according
to the agent’s pre-arrival information, the channel depth is 9.7m, with a minimum depth of
9.4m at the turning basin. Vessel departed at low water with a tide of about 0.5m.
Following the dredged channel, while the vessel was clearing the breakwater in position Lat
04o59.464N Long 009o02.696W, a strong thud was heard and heavy vibrations were felt.
Pilot attributed this to waves that were coming almost from right ahead. Though not
convinced, the bridge team accepted this as there were no other abnormalities e.g.
increased engine load, speed drop, unexpected reading on echo sounder, etc.
Later, during the passage, vessel attained a 2oP list. Subsequent investigation revealed
damage in 5P WBT, causing water ingress. Thus indicating that the vessel had hit an
uncharted obstruction/ shallows while clearing the breakwater.

Photos:

Potential Outcome 1. Damages could have been severe enough to render the vessel unstable.
(What else could 2. Oil pollution could have occurred in case of hull breach i.w.o. bunker tanks or breach of
have gone wrong): cargo containment.
3. Damage to the propeller and/or rudder could have could have rendered vessel
incapacitated. Off-hire period would have been long in such case.
4. Vessel could have blocked the channel with a potential for huge claims.

Underwater inspection revealed two fractures in the bottom shell between frame 78 & 79.
Additionally, frames were also found fractured along with buckling and set-in of bottom
plating in the surrounding area.
Immediate Causes: 1. Inadequate port or berthing facilities
Vessel was following a dredged channel. The chart indicated the channel dredged to 9.0m
while the agent’s pre-arrival message indicated a minimum depth of 9.7m in the approach
channel and 9.4m at the turning basin. For this given depth, the vessel should have safely

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 LESSONS LEARNED FROM INCIDENT INVESTIGATION

navigated with a UKC of about 2.0 meters. However, the vessel touched bottom/struck an
obstruction while navigating almost in the middle of the dredged channel.

Root / Basic 1. External factors – local authorities

Causes: The port, agents, or the Pilot were not aware of the uncharted shallow/obstruction in the
middle of the dredged channel. Although, there was a thud heard and heavy vibrations were
experienced, the pilot attributed this to waves that were coming almost from right ahead.
Though not convinced, bridge team accepted this as there were no other abnormalities.

Corrective/ Action Responsibility Target Date

Preventive Inform UKHO of the navigational hazard in the Operations Completed
Measures: port to issue the relevant correction.
Inform Port Control of the navigational hazard in Operations Completed
the port to issue the relevant correction.
Port cautionary to be prepared and be sent to all Operations Completed
vessels proceeding to this port.
Risk assessment NAV00006, NAV00027 and QHSE 17-Dec-19
NAV00031 to review.
Key Message: In African ports, there is a high probability that navigation hazards may exist even if the
hydrographic survey is recent. In this case, the data was based on the survey of 2012, which
is not very old.
Lessons Learned: Vessel should try to monitor UKC during ballast passage to determine if the loaded passage
with greater draft is safe.
Team engagement Following to be discussed with the bridge team in the next QHSE meeting along with
/ discussion topics the key message and lessons learned.
• How can similar incidents be prevented?
• What extra precautions should be taken when navigating in African ports?
• Has anyone experienced a similar incident? What were the causes?

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