STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 19

GLOBAL SHARING MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – DEC. 2013 - NAVIGATION
KEY MESSAGE: THOROUGH PASSAGE PLANNING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, GOOD
COMMUNICATION & SITUATION AWARENESS ARE CRITICAL FOR SAFE NAVIGATION.
WHAT HAPPENED:

A vessel in laden condition was navigating inbound at night time through a local channel in river, the high tide
was required prior to enter this channel and no official Pilot was required. While vessel was reaching buoy
no.4 and then altered course to port side to proceed as channel route. After that vessel grounded at port side
of channel. No oil spill and No injury.
WHY IT HAPPENED:

1. Buoy no. 4 moved out from charted position to west side about 140 mtrs. 2. Master relied solely on single
aid to navigate in channel.
LESSONS LEARNED:

1. Shore management team must train Master to use bearing of navigation aids on shore to fix the current
position and compared with channel route. 2. The buoy which was floating and able to move on the water
should not be relied to navigate in channel.

ST

31

DEC 2013

A Shell Marine Contractors Safety Initiative