The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Bridge failures led to ferry grounding
An investigation into a freight ferry which ran aground at the entrance to Aberdeen Harbour has found failures on the bridge after encountering thick fog.
NorthLink’s MV Arrow got into difficulties on its arrival from Lerwick in Shetland at 7.27am on June 25 last year.
The 122m-long ro-ro vessel was freed by harbour tugs and was able to continue to the quayside.
During its port approach, a pilot exemption certificate (PEC) holder provided by the vessel’s charterer was navigating by radar and steering the vessel.
But a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the vessel encountered thick fog a few minutes before it entered Aberdeen’s 70m-wide navigation channel – and with limited support from the bridge team, the PEC holder became overloaded.
Consequently, while attempting to correct a deviation to the north of the planned track, he overcorrected to the south.
The overcorrection was not noticed by the bridge team in time to avoid the grounding.
After grounding, the 23-year-old vessel began to list significantly in the falling tide.
But after confirming no water ingress into the hull, with the assistance of a tug, the master used Arrow’s engines and bow thruster to refloat the vessel.
There were no injuries or pollution but there was significant damage to the hull.
Repairs required dry docking and the vessel was out of service for four weeks.
The key safety issues identified by the MAIB were that Arrow’s bridge team was not fully prepared for pilotage in restricted visibility.
The support provided to the PEC holder by the bridge team was poor.
Navigation techniques used did not provide the team with an accurate view of the available safe water in the approach channel.
Poor bridge ergonomics and limited electronic chart system capabilities meant that the PEC holder was navigating by use of radar alone.
“The bridge team was not adequately prepared for pilotage in restricted visibility.
“A pre-arrival briefing had not been conducted; the passage plan lacked a formal abort position, which could have triggered a re-evaluation of the plan; and the restricted visibility check list has not been completed effectively,” said the report.
“The PEC holder was probably overloaded by the combined duties of steering the vessel in addition to navigating it by the use of the radar.”
But as a result of the actions taken following the investigation, no recommendations have been made by the MAIB.
Seatruck Ferries Ltd has undertaken a number of actions to improve the safe navigation of its vessels in pilotage waters.
These include implementing effective bridge resource management, clarifying its requirements for the conduct of pilotage by PEC holders, navigation in restricted visibility and optimising the use of electronic navigation systems.
Aberdeen Harbour Board has reviewed its vessel traffic service procedures and introduced a graded PEC system, together with enhancements to training.