Case Studies

A fully laden VLCC battling 60-knot winds and 10-metre seas endured severe heavy-weather damage as green water swept across the decks, tearing away lifesaving and firefighting equipment despite the crew’s efforts to safeguard the vessel.

A fast modern container vessel was preparing to embark a pilot during the early hours of the morning. One man was sent to rig the ladder which is on a roller winch and deployed from a side door approximately 3 metres above sea level at normal draught.

The watertight doors were normally set in the local-control mode, which meant that they could not be remotely closed from the wheelhouse.

The incident occurred due to a gas bottle exploding in a lifeboat during the process of charging it up from the Breathing Apparatus Air Compressor.

The vessel, a coaster of 75 m in length, was at anchor and experiencing a moderate swell. The cable was paid out to about 7 shackles in the water.

A congested anchorage turned dangerous when a drifting vessel kept advancing toward the tanker.

As the lifeboat needed a replacement release cable, among other things, the release system had to be reset and secured. This was done as per specifications and confirmed by the attending class surveyor.

Ship’s officer on the bridge saw a person struggling to remain afoat in the water near the ship; the water temperature was near freezing. The officer immediately raised the alarm.

To ensure that the wires were running freely, the bosun stood on a small platform on the top of the crane cab and directed the deck cadet to operate the crane.