Double bottom tank – Officer of the Watch

Incident Information on Grooving Corrosion on Ship’s Side

During a loaded voyage of a bulk carrier it was discovered that water had entered into the double bottom tank No.4, amidships. After inspection it was found that the water was coming through the ship’s side via the access trunk from the top wing tank and then to the double bottom ballast tank. The ingress water was estimated to be approximately 300 cubic meters per hour. Fortunately, the leak was limited to the double bottom ballast tank and the ballast pumps were able to keep the tank empty until the crack could be dealt with.

On 25 July 2007 the MV Captain Blue loaded with cement bags, sent a distress alert to JRCC (Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre) Piraeus reporting a starboard list of four degrees west of Kefalonia Island at the Ionian Sea. Following the appropriate actions from the Hellenic SAR Authorities, the ship was towed safely in the port of Kefalonia Island. The master reported to the local Coast Guard Authority that he was not in position of proceeding to ballast operations since he suspected that there could be a hole in the hold, resulting to damage on cargo. As a consequence the ship was inspected by a team of PSCOs from the PSC Office of Patra and the inspection revealed 20 deficiencies, with most of them of a serious nature resulting in a detention.