200927 Heavy weather damage

Heavy weather damage
MARS Report 200927

A fully laden VLCC in our fleet suffered heavy weather damage to lifesaving, firefighting and safety equipment as well as deck fittings when she encountered heavy seas as a result of an intense Atlantic depression. At the time of the incident, the vessel was passing Ile d'Ouessant (Ushant), France, en route for discharge at Rotterdam.

Wind speeds of more than 60 knots, and sea/swell conditions in excess of 10 metres, caused the vessel to roll heavily and take on large quantities of 'green water'. The force of this water washing over the decks resulted in the loss of fittings and equipment, including the forward liferaft, fire hose boxes and immersion suits. The water also had the effect of lifting the port manifold drip-tray and distorting the safety walkway railings and shelters.

Root cause
Lack of planning - with the predicted adverse weather, additional lashings could have been applied and equipment temporarily relocated to avoid loss. These days masters have accurate forecasts and can make informed decisions at an early stage to avoid the worst of the expected weather conditions, or time their arrival to avoid conditions where a storm force wind blows against the current or tidal stream.

What went right

The master reduced speed as the conditions worsened, minimising the slamming effect of the heavy seas and ensuring no structural damage was experienced.
A soon as it was safe to do so, the master promptly inspected the tanker's decks and reported the damage to the company. This ensured that management could instruct the purchasing department to replace the lost items and the fleet team could make the necessary arrangements for additional support during the discharge and the various inspections and surveys by class.

Lessons learned
Daily monitoring of weather forecasts, careful assessment of predicted conditions and the early adjustment of course and speed to avoid heavy weather conditions.
Early notification of expected heavy weather to those responsible for ensuring that all openings and deck fittings / equipment are secure, or temporarily relocated to avoid loss.
Securing arrangements inspected for deterioration or weak points and either replaced or doubled up to improve their effectiveness.
Although there is no evidence to suggest that commercial pressure to maintain ETA contributed to this incident, safety must always take precedence over commercial decisions. Berthing times can be easily re-scheduled, but accidents can have a long-lasting impact on individuals and companies.