Accident Reports

Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

Posted on by News Hound
Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report
Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report

Between 2016 and 2025, 17 bulk carriers of more than 10,000 deadweight tonnes were reported lost, with the tragic loss of 71 seafarers’ lives, according to an INTERCARGO annual report.

And cargo liquefaction remains the greatest contributor to loss of life with 37 lives – 52.1% of the total loss of life in the past ten years.

INTERCARGO’s annual Bulk Carrier Casualty Report examines the safety performance of bulk carriers over a rolling 10-year period in order to identify risks and improve safety for seafarers and vessel operations. Continue reading “Cargo liquefaction greatest contributor to seafarer deaths in INTERCARGO bulk carrier report”

Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

Posted on by News Hound
Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding
Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety alert after a prototype component used in a mechanical shaft-seal system failed onboard a USCG inspected deep draft vessel.

In February 2026. a U.S. flagged crude oil tanker transiting near Delaware Bay experienced simultaneous failures of its port and starboard shaft seals, resulting in substantial seawater ingress. The crew subsequently deployed emergency collars supplied by the seal manufacturer and used the vessel’s emergency bilge system to remove the water. Continue reading “Safety alert: Prototype shaft seal failure causes engine room flooding”

Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

Posted on by News Hound
Responding to an engine high temperature alarm
Responding to an engine high temperature alarm

According to the U.S Coast Guard, a fire aboard a small passenger vessel resulted in the death of one passenger, injuries to multiple passengers, and the total loss of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the fire yielded several findings that warrant immediate review by all vessel operators.

While underway, in response to a high jacket water-temperature alarm, the master shifted Continue reading “Responding to an engine high temperature alarm”

Hull corrosion sank fishing vessel

Posted on by News Hound
A photo of a red fishing vessel called North American alongside
Fishing vessel North American. Source: Daniel Ramirez

The flooding and sinking of fishing vessel North American in Seattle, Washington, USA was a result of hull corrosion, said the National Transportation Safety Board.

What happened

On May 14, 2024, about 0550 local time, vessel representatives for the fishing vessel North American, which was uncrewed and docked on the Lake Washington Ship Canal, in Seattle, Washington, were notified that the vessel was flooding.

Salvors arrived on scene and attempted to dewater the vessel Continue reading “Hull corrosion sank fishing vessel”

Fisherman’s death highlights risk of entanglements on potting vessel Wilaya

Posted on by News Hound
Fisherman’s death highlights risk of entanglements on potting vessels, Wilaya. Source: MAIB
Fisherman’s death highlights risk of entanglements on potting vessel Wilaya. Source: MAIB

An investigation found risk assessments were not being followed on Wilaya after a deckhand was dragged overboard a potting and died off the Welsh coast last year.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) published a safety flyer along with the report saying potting is one of the most hazardous fishing methods. The accident on board Wilaya was the sixth fatality on board UK potting vessels in the 20 months from October 2023 to May 2025, highlighting the vulnerability of fishermen operating in the sector. Continue reading “Fisherman’s death highlights risk of entanglements on potting vessel Wilaya”

Dangers of lone watchkeeping and fatigue highlighted after loss of prawn trawler

Posted on by News Hound
Dangers of lone watchkeeping and fatigue highlighted after loss of prawn trawler. Crystal Stream. Credit: Gordon Macrae (MarineTraffic.com).
Dangers of lone watchkeeping and fatigue highlighted after loss of prawn trawler . Crystal Stream. Credit: Gordon Macrae (MarineTraffic.com).

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its final report into the grounding and loss of fishing vessel Crystal Stream last year. A safety warning was also issued after it was found that the watch alarm in the wheelhouse was not connected to the autopilot and was not operating at the time of the accident.

What happened

At just after midnight on 6 June 2025, the UK registered prawn trawler Crystal Stream (LH 147) struck an underwater obstruction near Barmore Island, Loch Fyne, Scotland. Shortly afterwards, the skipper intentionally beached the vessel on the rocky shore, where the crew abandoned to a liferaft. Continue reading “Dangers of lone watchkeeping and fatigue highlighted after loss of prawn trawler”

NMA warns of serious crushing injuries in packaging machinery

Posted on by News Hound
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has received reports of serious crushing accidents involving fish packaging machines in factories on board vessels. Credit: Sjøfartsdirektoratet
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has received reports of serious crushing accidents involving fish packaging machines in factories on board vessels. Credit: Sjøfartsdirektoratet

The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) has received reports of serious crushing accidents involving fish packaging machines in factories on board vessels.

An incident in which a person was caught in an automated palletising prompted the NMA to share an article highlighting the dangers involved. In the particular incident a vital safety barrier had been removed. Continue reading “NMA warns of serious crushing injuries in packaging machinery”

Degraded part cause of Interislander Kaitaki blackout incident

Posted on by News Hound
Degraded part cause of Interislander Kaitaki blackout incident. Credit: KiwiRail Limited
Degraded part cause of Interislander Kaitaki blackout incident. Credit: KiwiRail Limited

A degraded rubber expansion joint failed putting 864 people on board passenger vessel Kaitaki at risk, according to New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC).

TAIC has released its final report three years after the Interislander ferry suffered a blackout and loss of propulsion while carrying out a scheduled service between from Picton to Wellington.

The incident on 28 January 2023 left the ship drifting in strong onshore conditions towards Sinclair Head on Wellington’s south coast. The master issued a Mayday. The ship avoided grounding after anchors held and power was restored. Continue reading “Degraded part cause of Interislander Kaitaki blackout incident”

Kommander Susan fire caused by substitute engine components, says MAIB

Posted on by News Hound
Image credit: fabianv (ShipSpotting.com) Kommander Susan fire caused by substitute engine components, says MAIB
Image credit: fabianv (ShipSpotting.com) Kommander Susan fire caused by substitute engine components, says MAIB

Sea trials in the Firth of Forth, Scotland that ended in catastrophic engine failure and a fire on board a vessel last year was caused by substitute components said a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

What happened

At 1305 on 25 January 2025, the site investigation vessel Kommandor Susan suffered a catastrophic failure of a diesel generator engine while conducting sea trials in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. The failure resulted in an engine room fire and a complete power blackout. Continue reading “Kommander Susan fire caused by substitute engine components, says MAIB”

Crane wire failure caused $3.8M in damage to offshore vessels, says NTSB

Posted on by News Hound
Crane wire failure caused $3.8M in damage to offshore vessels, says NTSB
Crane wire failure caused $3.8M in damage to offshore vessels, says NTSB

Internal corrosion of a crane wire caused US$3.8 million in damage to offshore construction vessel Island Venture and offshore supply vessel C Enforcer at Port Fourchon, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

What happened

On April 3, 2025, about 2145 local time, the offshore construction vessel Island Venture’s crane was being used to lift a wire reel from the back deck of the offshore supply vessel C Enforcer in Bayou Lafourche, Port Fourchon, Louisiana, when the crane’s hoisting wire parted, causing the reel to drop onto the C Enforcer’s main deck. Continue reading “Crane wire failure caused $3.8M in damage to offshore vessels, says NTSB”

Fisherman dies saving fellow deckhand in man overboard emergency

Posted on by News Hound
Fisherman dies saving fellow deckhand in man overboard emergency. Weston Bay. Credit: MAIB
Fisherman dies saving fellow deckhand in man overboard emergency. Weston Bay. Credit: MAIB

Two deckhands went overboard from potting vessel Weston Bay (GY123) off Spurn Head resulting one fatality, an investigation by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found.

The MAIB also released a safety flyer with the investigation report following the incident.

What happened

At about 0820 on 22 May 2024, two deckhands went overboard during deployment of the fishing gear from the UK registered potting vessel Weston Bay Continue reading “Fisherman dies saving fellow deckhand in man overboard emergency”

Short circuit caused jet boat canyon wall crash in New Zealand

Posted on by News Hound
Image credit: Discovery 2 before the fitting of roll bar. Credit: Skippers Canyon Jet Limited, anonymised by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
Image credit: Discovery 2 before the fitting of roll bar. Credit: Skippers Canyon Jet Limited, anonymised by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released a report into an incident where several passengers were injured after a jet boat crashed into a canyon wall last year.

What happened

On 25 February 2025, commercial jet boat Discovery 2 was operating in Skippers Canyon, on the Shotover River, with 11 passengers on board.

Shortly after commencing the return leg of the journey, and as the boat completed a right-hand turn, its engine suddenly cut out. The driver immediately reset the ignition, but the engine would not start, so the boat had no propulsion and no thrust to provide steering control. Continue reading “Short circuit caused jet boat canyon wall crash in New Zealand”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine