Page 12 - 2022 - Q3 - Minerva in Focus

SAFETY & SECURITY Safety Digest:

Fender bender!

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Figure 1: The berthing manoeuvre

The Incident made fast ashore. Shortly afterwards, a gust of wind pushed its stern
[occurred onboard a vessel of another company] towards the quay. To counter the effect of the wind, the pilot instinc-
tively applied power and rudder to kick the stern clear. However, this
Having waited for the weather to ease, a pilot boarded an inbound sudden manoeuvre took the mooring deck crew by surprise, and as
coaster and discussed the arrival plan with the master; there was the after lines became taut, the coaster’s stern was quickly pulled
still a fresh onshore wind, and no tugs were available. The vessel’s towards the jetty.
bow thruster was defective, so the master and the pilot agreed that
the port anchor would be dropped off the berth to control the bow, As the coaster’s starboard quarter struck the jetty, the combination
with the engine and rudder being used to control the stern (Figure of the impact and the swell caused the ship to roll onto its concrete
1). Once the coaster had entered the harbour, the port anchor was edge. As it did so, the upper part of the coaster’s hull was pushed
dropped as planned. During the final stages of the manoeuvre, when against a steel fender bracket, which punctured an engine room fuel
the vessel was close to the berth, mooring lines were passed and tank, causing fuel to spill into the harbour.

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Lessons Learned
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• Although there had already been a delay because of the weather, waiting a little longer for tugs or calmer weather was an option
to reduce the risks of this plan.
• Better communication between the bridge and mooring stations would have ensured that everyone knew when to pass lines
ashore, take in or pay out slack, and finally secure the vessel safely alongside.
• It is good practice to keep local operating guidance under review. In this case, the harbourmaster amended the guidance to masters
and pilots on berthing vessels in marginal weather conditions. Riga Ferraiou 73 & Sokratous 26, Moschato

Telephone: +30 210 94 15 316 Fax: +30 210 45 33 910 E-mail: info@aeromet.gr
12 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 21 / Q3 2022 Source: Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)

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