STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 3

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GLOBAL SHARING – DECEMBER 2013 - NAVIGATION
Volume 1, Issue 12
31st December 2013

GLOBAL SHARING
A SHELL MARINE CONTRACTORS SAFETY INITIATIVE

DECEMBER 2013 - SPECIAL FOCUS – SAFE NAVIGATION
KEY MESSAGE: THOROUGH PASSAGE PLANNING, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, GOOD
COMMUNICATION & SITUATION AWARENESS ARE CRITICAL FOR SAFE NAVIGATION.
WHAT HAPPENED?

The vessel arrived at Malacca Straits and the Master attended the bridge for approximately 19 hours until the
ship reached the anchorage position off Pasir Gudang. An hour before arrival at the “Tanker” anchorage, Port
Control changed the designated anchorage to the “General” Anchorage…………………………………
On approach to the anchorage, the Master noted that the anchorage was too congested and identified an
area to the south, outside of the General Purpose anchorage, that appeared clear enough to anchor safely.
Owing to a 2 knot current setting to the South East, the Master found he had to increasingly alter course to
port to maintain the course made good towards his intended anchorage position. As they approached the
anchorage position at 4 knots, the Master ordered the engine astern and the combined effect of transverse
thrust and tidal stream caused an increased rate of turn to starboard. To counter this, full port helm was
applied but the vessel continued to starboard. Realising his vessel was not going to clear an anchored vessel
now laying ahead, the Master ordered the wheel hard to starboard and full ahead. Whilst the bow cleared the
anchored vessel ahead, the port side boat deck collided with the port quarter of the other ship. As the two
vessels moved away from one another, the Master could see a second vessel directly ahead at about 3
cables. Despite attempts to clear, the bow of the second anchored vessel struck the port side by way of
ballast tanks #3 and #4.
WHY IT HAPPENED?

1)
2)
3)
4)

The Master appears to have misjudged the effect of current and manoeuvrability in confined waters.
The Master had been on the bridge for almost 19 hours steaming through Malacca Straits and was fatigued.
The Master did not delegate Bridge responsibility to other Officers to get some rest – planning error.
Inadequate Situation awareness and preparation for passage through Malacca Straits.

LESSONS LEARNED:

1) Proper resource management and good planning is essential to manage long passages through difficult zones.
2) Each Navigating Officer should know the manoeuvring capability of his vessel and best use as well as limitations
of Engine, helm, rudder, slowest speed, number of starts and bow thruster use.