Accident Reports

The Stretch Duck 7 sinking: Initial investigation findings

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The Stretch Duck 7 is hauled out of the water in 2018 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. St. Louis Post-Dispatch — J.B. Forbes
The Stretch Duck 7 is hauled out of the water in 2018 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. St. Louis Post-Dispatch — J.B. Forbes

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently issued its preliminary findings concerning the tragic events that led to the sinking of the DUKW amphibious passenger boat, “Stretch Duck 7”. NTSB has held a virtual meeting on 28 April to discuss the matter in detail.

On 19 July 2018, at about 1908 central daylight time, a 33-foot-long, modified World War II-era DUKW amphibious passenger vessel, “The Stretch Duck 7” sank during a storm with heavy winds that developed rapidly on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri.

Of the 31 persons that were onboard, there were reported 17 fatalities. As the NTSB reported, the vessel’s operator, Ride the Ducks of Branson continued to operate waterborne tours despite a severe thunderstorm Continue reading “The Stretch Duck 7 sinking: Initial investigation findings”

St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published

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St Clair - Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com
St Clair – Photo courtesy of duluthshippingnews.com

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the bulk carrier St Clair whilst in layup status at TORCO dock in Maumee River, Toledo, in February 2019. The investigation has highlighted a lack of operating procedures for continuous monitoring of the vessel while in layup.

About 2010 local time on February 16, 2019, a fire was reported on the bulk carrier St Clair while the vessel was laid-up for the winter at the CSX TORCO Iron Ore Terminal (TORCO dock) at the mouth of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. No one was onboard. The fire was extinguished approximately 36 hours Continue reading “St Clair: Engine room fire on bulk carrier while in layup status report published”

RMI alerts on fire incidents onboard commercial yachts

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The marshall islands registry logo
The marshall islands registry logo

In 2019, four fire incidents occurred onboard commercial yachts registered under the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) that resulted in the total constructive loss of the vessel. As a consequence, RMI has shared key areas of concern and best practices.

Two incidents occurred while the yachts were moored, one happened while the vessel was underway, and one while it was in the shipyard. There were no deaths or injuries as a result of any of these fires.

Areas of concern

Although causes of the incidents are different, the RMI investigation findings highlight three major areas of concern:
1. fire prevention;
2. ensuring fire detection and extinguishing systems are fully functional; and
3. ensuring yacht crews are prepared to respond to a fire. Continue reading “RMI alerts on fire incidents onboard commercial yachts”

Overpressurization and rupture of cargo tank onboard Fairchem Filly report published

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Overpressurization onboard Fairchem Filly report
Overpressurization onboard Fairchem Filly report

NTSB issued an investigation report on the overpressurization and rupture of a cargo tank on the cargo ship Fairchem Filly while at Houston Ship Channel, in May 2019. Investigators stressed that the vessel and terminal personnel involved were not following procedures related to cargo discharge and nitrogen-blanketing operations.

On 30 May 2019, about 0750 local time, the Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker Fairchem Filly, with a crew of 22, experienced an overpressurization of the number 3 port and starboard cargo tanks while discharging liquid hexene at Vopak Terminal in Deer Park, Texas.

The overpressurization resulted in damage to the number 3 port cargo tank and the tank top (deck). All cargo was contained on board the double-hulled vessel, with no pollution or injuries reported. Damage to Continue reading “Overpressurization and rupture of cargo tank onboard Fairchem Filly report published”

Ariel: Ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line in the engine room caused sinking says report

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NTSB publish report on incident involving Ariel
NTSB publish report on incident involving Ariel

NTSB has published its investigation report about the fire onboard and subsequent sinking of the fishing vessel Ariel, while in Sheep Bay, Alaska, in August 2019. The investigation identified ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line as key cause of the fire.

On August 26, 2019, the fishing vessel Ariel was transiting Sheep Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska, when a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room. The four crewmembers aboard the Ariel attempted to fight the fire, but they were unsuccessful and abandoned ship into the vessel’s skiff.

The Ariel continued to burn and subsequently sank. Good Samaritan vessels rescued the Continue reading “Ariel: Ignition of fuel leaking from the generator fuel supply line in the engine room caused sinking says report”

Nordstar: Exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death says AIBN report

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AIBN report on Nordstar
AIBN report on Nordstar

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has published an accident report on the matter of a crew member who died on board the factory trawler Nordstar relating to the with preparations for cleaning a silage tank. It was revealed that exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death.

The factory trawler Nordstar was on its way to Ålesund after fishing in international waters west of the Reykjanes Ridge. The vessel was to be made ready for fishing for another type of fish (from redfish to white fish) during the voyage, and the crew had finished cleaning the factory on the morning of 10 June 2018.

Later in the morning, the skipper instructed the factory supervisor to prepare the silage tanks for cleaning. This meant flushing the tanks by filling them with seawater and emptying them several times, before lowering a fan (not explosion proof) into the tank to blow in fresh air and lead air out of the tank via the attached plastic hose. According to the skipper, he had given instructions that the fan was to be lowered Continue reading “Nordstar: Exposure to lethal gas levels contributed to fisherman’s death says AIBN report”

Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report

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AIBN report on Rohav
AIBN report on Rohav

The Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN) has published its report about the incident on 10 September 2018, when a crew member died in an work related accident on board Rohav LLUZ in Bergsfjorden, Senja.

On Monday 10 September 2018 Rohav had just been unloaded and was waiting for instructions for the subsequent order. In the meantime, the motorman was to prepare the holds for new cargo.

Before preparing the hold, he planned to replace a hose in the hydraulic system that operated the cargo hold hatch. When the motorman disconnected the hose, the oil leaked and the hydraulic pressure dropped, Continue reading “Rohav: Lack of securing devices on hatch covers leads to death of a crew member reveals investigation report”

MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report

Posted on by News Hound
The harboured leopold LD
The harboured leopold LD

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on the total loss of power of the bulk carrier MV Leopold LD following the failure of the auxiliary engines and the emergency generator while underway in March 2019. The investigation identified lack of crew familiarization with the correct operation of the compensation damping tank.

MV Leopold LD was en route from the port of Saldanha Bay, South Africa, to Hamburg, Germany, carrying iron ore. On 14 March 2019, the only running Continue reading “MV Leopold LD: Total loss of power while underway linked to poor crew familiarization says Transport Malta report”

Jet boat accident stresses need of proper maintenance of mechanical equipment highlights report

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TAIC report on the jet boat 'Discovery 2'
TAIC report on the jet boat ‘Discovery 2’

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has published its accident report on the contact of the jet boat ‘Discovery 2’ with Skippers Canyon wall while operating on the Shotover River in February 2019. Passengers onboard were injured. The incident highlighted that jet boating is a high-risk activity that leaves very little margin for error when navigating at high speeds in narrow channels and rivers and for the proper maintenance of mechanical equipment.

On 23 February 2019, the commercial jet boat Discovery 2 was operating on the Shotover River in the vicinity of Skippers Canyon with nine passengers onboard. The boat was on its return leg when the driver was required to negotiate a series of bends in a section of the river about 10 metres wide. Approaching a left-hand bend, Continue reading “Jet boat accident stresses need of proper maintenance of mechanical equipment highlights report”

SOLAS compliance poor – lifeboat release hook failure identified

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Poor compliance with SOLAS in 'Northern Ranger' incident
Poor compliance with SOLAS in ‘Northern Ranger’ incident

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published an incident report on a lifeboat release hook failure during a drill on the passenger ferry ‘Northern Ranger’ in October 2017, which led to minor injuries. The failure was linked to poor compliance with SOLAS and the operator’s safety manual.

On 11 October 2017, the starboard lifeboat of the passenger ferry Northern Ranger was undergoing operational testing at the dock in Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador, when its forward release hook failed.

While the crew members were lifting the lifeboat to the vessel’s embarkation deck, the forward release hook suddenly released and the Continue reading “SOLAS compliance poor – lifeboat release hook failure identified”

Pacific 1: Poor decision to remain at sea during continuous flooding cited as main cause of sinking

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Pacific 1
Pacific 1

The NTSB has published its investigation report on the flooding and sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Pacific 1 while in the Bering Sea, Alaska in February 2019. The report identified the master’s poor decision to remain at sea with continuous flooding as key cause of the sinking.

About 0330 local time on 15 February 2019, Pacific 1 was engaged in cod fishing in the Bering Sea near Kashega Bay, Unalaska Island, Alaska, when the vessel began to take on water at the stern. The five crew members abandoned the vessel and were rescued by the nearby Good Samaritan vessel Kona Kai. There were no injuries, but there was an oil sheen. The vessel sank and was considered a total Continue reading “Pacific 1: Poor decision to remain at sea during continuous flooding cited as main cause of sinking”

Poor hull maintenance linked to flooding of towing vessel Tom Bussler says NTSB report

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Poor hull maintenance linked to flooding of towing vessel
Poor hull maintenance linked to flooding of towing vessel

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation report on the flooding and sinking of towing vessel ‘Tom Bussler’ on Tennessee River in January 2019. The incident stressed issues associated with poor hull maintenance and repair.

On January 7, 2019, about 2030 local time, the towing vessel Tom Bussler was transiting in light boat condition (no tow) upbound on the Tennessee River at mile 15 near Calvert City, Kentucky, when it began flooding and quickly sank in the channel. Both crew members aboard abandoned the Continue reading “Poor hull maintenance linked to flooding of towing vessel Tom Bussler says NTSB report”

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