The grounding of the 'L'Autral' on Feb 9, 2017, could have been avoided if crew had spoken up about it no longer being on track, a Transport Accident Investigation Commission has found.The vessel was entering Milford Sound on February 9, 2017, when it struck a bank, damaging part of the hull. The commission's report, which was published on July 26, 2018, said an electronic navigation system was being used to guide the ship in the dark. As it was making a turn off Dale Point, the authorised harbour pilot lost awareness of exactly where the ship was, the direction it was heading, and the effects of the wind and tide on the ship. The report found the ship had deviated off the planned track and ran into a stony bank near the shoreline of Milford Sound. No-one aboard was injured and the ship suffered minor scaping and indentation on the starboard side of the hull, but it was not breached. The commission found that the ship's crew on the bridge noticed the ship was off its planned track, however did not bring this to the attention of the pilot until it was too late to avert the grounding. The bridge team did not make full use of the ship's electronic navigation systems to ensure the ship stayed on track, the report says. Safety issues identified were the navigational system not being used to its full potential as a tool for planning and monitoring the ship's passage, and the standard of bridge resource management did not meet good industry practice. Ad Feedback The commission also found there were risks in conducting 'blind pilotage' with large ships in confined waters that had not been fully considered by the authority that regulated maritime activity in the area, Environment Southland. It was noted that previously poor bridge management under pilotage had been a factor contributing to accidents involving two other ships in New Zealand. The commission made several recommendations aimed at improving the standard of pilotage and making the transition of the pilot into the ship's bridge team seamless.
WORLD SHIPPING
31 July 2018 - 11:35
Report: Grounding could have been avoided
The grounding of the 'L'Autral' on Feb 9, 2017, could have been avoided if crew had spoken up about it no longer being on track, a Transport Accident Investigation Commission has found
WORLD SHIPPING
31 July 2018 - 11:35
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