STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 14

GLOBAL SHARING MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – DEC. 2013 - NAVIGATION
KEY MESSAGE: CHARTS FOR COASTAL & REMOTE AREAS MAY NOT BE CORRECT.
WHAT HAPPENED:

On 30th April at 1720 hrs Lt, bulk carrier arrived at Macapa anchorage in the Amazon River.
Vessel was safely anchored in position Lat - 00° 03.26’N / Long - 050° 56.81’W.
Her arrival drafts were F - 5.30 m / A - 7.10 m. On the 1st of May, vessel was asked to proceed to Fazendinha
for port clearance formalities, after which she returned same day and re-anchored at position Lat - 00°03.19’N
/ Long - 050° 57.67’W. Charted depth around this position was 13.2 m. On the 6th of May vessel was required
to be at the pilot station for proceeding to her berth at Santarem, which is a 36 hours pilotage in the Amazon
River. Vessel commenced heaving up her anchor and M/Engine was used but vessel did not move as was
apparent from the vessel position. Master suspected that vessel might have touched bottom and reported the
same to all concerned. Hand lead line soundings around the vessel were taken and it indicated min UKC of
6.0 m (at mid-ship between holds 4 and 5). Subsequently vessel commenced deballasting her tanks to further
reduce her draft to a computed figure F - 5.51 m / A - 6.22 m. Vessel refloated at around 1015 hrs Lt with the
tidal level of 1.7m and then proceeded to pick up Pilots at Fazendinha at 1200 hrs Lt. Vessel then
subsequently went alongside Santarem on 7th May/PM, and commenced loading operations. Soundings of all
tanks (ER, Void, and Ballast) were regularly taken and no abnormalities were noticed.
WHY IT HAPPENED:

Vessel touched bottom at an area where there was sufficient depth of water marked on the relevant BA chart,
BA 2189. Chart was corrected and up to date. Also there was no local navigational warning promulgated for
this area effecting / highlighting changes in the depths. Feedback on this uncharted obstruction is given to
UKHO also (via the Flag State).
LESSONS LEARNED:

1) Irrespective of any UKC concerns, all vessels calling Rio Parana (Argentina) and Amazon (Brazil) rivers should
inspect their DB tanks after departure from the river. Inspection reports are to be sent to relevant
superintendent.
2) In case if vessel is required to drop anchor at Macapa anchorage, then this position Latitude 00°02.829’N /
Longitude - 050°58.385’W must be avoided. This can change due geographical phenomena such as
sedimentation in the waters.
3) Depths – gather as much info as possible from – Local agents / coast guard / harbour master. Due to regular
silting in these rivers, these rivers are subject to frequent changes in depth contours.
4) As a thumb rule, it is a good idea to reduce draft to safe minimum specially when encountering coastal
areas or where rivers / de-silting phenomena can occur.
REMARKS:

ST

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DEC 2013

A Shell Marine Contractors Safety Initiative