200734 Improper tug order
An oil tanker came alongside the designated berth, however correct positioning required the ship to drop astern by about 15 metres. The forward and after backsprings were already on the shore bollards at this time. The stern tug was fast with a line led through the centre lead aft and the pilot ordered it to pull the tanker astern. Inadvertently, the tanker overshot this mark and it was now required to move the ship ahead by about five metres.
The pilot was speaking to the tug on the radio in the local language. When the master queried his intentions, the pilot explained that he had ordered the after tug to push the tanker on the transom stern in order to move ahead. Realising that the transom stern was not a designated 'tug pushing' area, the master overrode this order: the tanker was warped ahead safely and correctly positioned by heaving on the after backspring.
Root cause/contributory factors
The pilot's failure to appreciate that the tanker's stern was not a specially strengthened area that could safely withstand the full force of a tug pushing the ship ahead.
Failure to control the initial astern movement.
Lessons learnt
Always maintain close communication with the pilot and be fully aware of his intentions, particularly when communicantions between pilot and tugs and shore are in a local language.
If in doubt, query his intentions, and in case of disagreement, ensure that conflicting intentions / interpretations are resolved before continuing with the operation.
Editor's note: MSC Circular 1175 recommends that the safe working load of towing equipment (including bitts) be marked on deck. Most shipbuilders also mark Åetug push' areas on the hull. If this information is duplicated in the pilot card, it will readily assist the bridge team and pilots in correctly deploying tugs and moorings. The tanker in this case may not have been fitted with a strengthened transom stern; however in vessels of lighter displacement, particularly vehicle carriers, it is quite common for the stern tug to make fast on a centre line sunken bitt, and can be employed in both pull and push modes.