Page 30 - CHIRP Annual Digest 2017

CHIRP Maritime

Article. 19 Article. 20
When not to overtake NAVAREA warnings are issued

for a reason
OUTLINE: An overtaking situation where a VLCC approach-
ing the Malacca Straits Deep Water Route had to slow
down to allow another vessel to overtake prior to entering OUTLINE: A report from a management company, describ-
the Deep Water Route. ing how an important NAVAREA warning was overlooked
and led to a near miss.
What the reporter told us
Our vessel was approaching the One Fathom Bank “goal- What the Reporter told us:
posts” from the northwest at our planned safe speed. Being Recently, we received a near miss report in which parts of a
a laden VLCC we were following the Deep Water Route and booster rocket launched from xxx fell near a vessel due to
were a little surprised to observe the container vessel xxx, the failure of the bridge team to note a navigation warning
draft 12metres approaching from astern and travelling con- regarding the area and the risk of falling debris.
siderably faster. Our pilot contacted him to confirm his inten-
tion to overtake, which he proceeded to do down our port A NAVAREA message about the launching of a rocket,
side. Our vessel’s engine had to be stopped for some time including the area at risk from falling debris, was issued
to allow him to get past and clear prior to our transit of the by a national coast guard. However, the Master and duty
restricted area at the “goalposts”. This was far from ideal officer overlooked it and did not plot the risk area on the
on the final approach to a notoriously hazardous area. The chart or ECDIS. The vessel entered a hazardous area with
lessons learned from the reporter were for ships “to keep considerable risk to the ship’s safety, resulting in a serious
clear of the deep-water route if not obliged to use it”. near miss in which the vessel came close to being hit by
falling debris from the booster rocket.
What the Third Party told us
We share the common interest in safe navigation and your
mail and report is received with thanks. We have taken the Fall prediction area
time to do an investigation and unfortunately found that the
VLCC did have a valid point. We have in our SMS procedures
a chapter pertaining to transit of the Malacca Strait and the
Ship’s route
need for safe speed.
1. We have re-emphasized the need to consider safe speed
as well as “not to impose any risk on others, especially
deep draught vessels”. Regardless of TSS rules, COLREGS
Rule 13 is also to be complied with.
2. We have issued a knowledge-sharing circular to our
managed vessels emphasizing what is already stated in
our procedures. Schematic showing ships track and fall prediction area of
rocket debris
We regret the situation and hope that by addressing and
re-emphasizing this on an individual vessel level as well as Regarding lessons learned, the company advised that in
to the fleet as a whole, we will avoid similar situations in order to avoid any re-occurrence, bridge teams should have
the future. the following processes in place for navigation warnings:

CHIRP Comment • All available means are to be used to receive navigation
In addition to the remedial actions taken by the Third Party warnings concerning areas near the ship’s intended route.
in this case, the Maritime Advisory Board mentioned the • Navigation warnings must be properly checked by the duty
following: officer, always supervised by the Master.
• Appropriate navigation warnings are to be marked on the
• Upon occasion, laden VLCC’s may have to stage a chart, recorded in the notebook (or designated file), and
carefully-timed transit due to draft and tidal restrictions – shared with the bridge team.
in such cases the timing of approach to the Deep-Water
Route may be critical. CHIRP Comment
• The 2017 edition of the “Passage Planning Guide – The Maritime Advisory Board agreed with the lessons
Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS)” has recently learned. All Navigation Area warnings, NAVTEX transmis-
been published by the Witherby Publishing Group. sions and Enhanced Group Call (EGC) messages, should
• Safe passage – The Straits of Malacca and Singapore be checked and acted upon where necessary. A procedure
(BIMCO and the SOMS Co-operative mechanism 2014) should be in place on the bridge to ensure that this is
may be consulted for general advice. done. Chart Management Systems routinely provide a sys-
tem which can be used.
The above article was published in MFB46
The above article was published in MFB 47

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