This investigation report refers to the grounding of a general cargo ship caused by the inaccurate positioning of the vessel. On 12 October 2010 at 22:30 the Netherlands-flagged MS NORDLAND, in ballast condition, departed Turku for Pietarsaari. The master, a pilot and a lookout were on the bridge. However, immediately prior to the accident the lookout was not on the bridge.
General Cargo Ship Grounding Due to Inaccurate Positioning – Investigation Report
Semi-Submersible Drilling Unit Riser Disconnect – Investigation Report
On July 5, 2005, an unplanned riser disconnect was initiated on the Ensco 7500 semi-submersible rig, which had been engaged in exploratory drilling activities, because of unfavorable sea and wind conditions associated with an approaching tropical depression. While the riser volume was being displaced with seawater in preparation for the disconnect operation, the rig was no longer able to maintain station adequately enough to complete the operation. As a result, the riser was disconnected from the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP), at which time 710 barrels of synthetic-based mud was released from the riser into the GOM. At the time of the disconnect, there were no open hole hydrocarbons exposed below the casing depth.
Engine Room Fire Onboard Asphalt Tanker – Investigation Report
At about 1230 local time on 9 January 2009, a fire accident happened onboard the Hong Kong registered asphalt tanker “An Tai Jiang” when she was en route from Ulsan to Ningbo. The fire started inside the engine room and spread into accommodation spaces. The accident resulted in the deaths of the Third Engineer and a motorman inside the engine room, and another motorman lost at sea after falling into water. The engine room and crew accommodation sustained serious damage. There was no oil pollution to marine environment.
Monthly Piracy Report for February 2014
Incidents off the West African coast are currently slightly higher than in Southeast Asia, a position last held by West Africa in 2008, the year in which a total of 39 crew members were kidnapped for ransom off various vessels mostly in the oil industry in Nigeria. Up until the date this report is being published the areas of maritime piracy related incidents worldwide are as follows:
- Arabian Sea: 1
- East Africa: 2
- Malacca Strait: 2
- South China Sea: 5
- West Africa: 5
- Indian Ocean: 4
Chemical Tanker & General Cargo Ship Collision – Investigation Report
This investigation report is referring to the collision between the Norwegian chemical tanker Sundstraum and the Malta registered general cargo ship Kapitan Lus. At 1316 LT on 3 July 2009, the Norwegian vessel Sundstraum and the Malta registered vessel Kapitan Lus collided in the Drogden Channel off Copenhagen. Sundstraum was on route from Tjelbergodden in Norway to Stettin in Poland with a cargo of 3707 tonnes of methanol. The vessel was southbound in the Drogden Channel, with the officer of the watch manning the bridge. Kapitan Lus was on its way from St Petersburg in Russia to Le Havre in France with a cargo of 4193 tonnes of aluminium and 182 tonnes of uranium oxide. The vessel was northbound in Drogden and the bridge crew consisted of the Master, the officer of the watch, a Danish pilot and the helmsman. There was good visibility and no wind or seas worth mentioning in the area.
Monthly Piracy Report for January 2014
During January 2014 piracy activity increased in West Africa with the Oil Tanker Kerala hijacking taking place as far south as Luanda, Angola. From the four kidnappings that were reported during last month, the three of them took place in Nigeria while one occurred in Equatorial Guinea. On the other hand attacks (mostly robberies) in Southeast Asia were down in January 2014 from December 2013. Up until the date this report is being published the areas of maritime piracy related incidents worldwide are as follows:
- Arabian Sea: 1
- East Africa: 1
- South China Sea: 8
- West Africa: 3
Grounding of Chinese Cargo Vessel – Investigation Report
This incident investigation report refers to the grounding of Chinese registered Cargo Ship. At 2220 on 7 May 2011, the Chinese registered river-trade cargo vessel Zhong Fu Fa Zhan departed the loading berth at Tseung Kwan O, in Junk Bay, Hong Kong after loaded a cargo of 2,200 tonnes of soil for discharge in Taishan, China. The weather was fine and the visibility was good. The navigation equipment and main engines were in normal working condition. The Master was on duty alone in the bridge after departure. The Chief Officer took over the watch from the Master at 0000 on 8 May 2011, also alone at the bridge. At about 0031 and 0032 on 8 May 2011, the Chief Officer made a report to VTC by radio. About 40 seconds later, the ship ran aground on the shoal of Adamasta Rock in North Cheung Chau Traffic Separation Scheme while the Chief Officer was making entries into ship log book.
Monthly Piracy Report for December 2013
On a monthly basis the Officer of the Watch Blog publishes a report regarding maritime piracy incidents. The report focuses mainly on vessels of the Merchant Navy (Bulk Carrier, Chemical Tankers, Containerships etc). Up until the date this report is being published the areas of maritime piracy related incidents worldwide are as follows:
- Arabian Sea: 1
- East Africa: 3
- Malacca Strait: 3
- North Atlantic Ocean: 1
- South America: 2
- South China Sea: 11
- West Africa: 4
Offshore Platform Blowout – Investigation Report
This incident refers to a a brief loss of well control that occurred onboard an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago. The operator was attempting to pull the tubing free of the seal assembly in a Baker SC-2 packer set at 10,830 feet to repair the Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (SCSSV) set at 350 feet (RKB) or 232 feet below mud line. In the attempt to retrieve the hanger, the 2 7/8-inch, P-105 tubing parted at approximately 4300 feet while working the pipe up and down. The 2 7/8-inch tubing began getting pushed out of the hole by well pressure and fluid in the annulus began flowing.
Monthly Piracy Report for November 2013
On a monthly basis the Officer of the Watch Blog publishes a report regarding maritime piracy incidents. The report focuses mainly on vessels of the Merchant Navy (Bulk Carrier, Chemical Tankers, Containerships etc). Up until the date this report is being published the figures of maritime piracy related incidents worldwide, according to IMB Piracy Reporting Centre, are as follows:
- Total Incidents Worldwide: 234
- Total Hijackings Worldwide: 12
- Somali related Incidents: 13
- Nigeria related Incidents: 30