The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board has actually launched its examination record right into the loss of 2 previous Maersk Supply Ships throughout a side-by-side tow to the breakers in December 2016, claiming the occasion was a ‘systematic accident’ not restricted to any type of solitary variable or source.

The DMAIB record information the occasions and also conditions that brought about the loss and also foundering of the Maersk Searcher and also Maersk Shipper off France adhering to an ask for an examination by the French authorities.

The 2 Danish overseas supply ships tipped over and also sank December 22, 2016 in the Bay of Biscay roughly 65 maritime miles off the French shore while being hauled by one more overseas supply ship, Maersk Battler, while en course to a scrapyard in Turkey.

The supply ships were unmanned at the time and also set up in a side-by-side lugging arrangement throughout the trip. But throughout flow with the English Channel, the fenders in between the ships on tow stopped working, and also the ships began to clash. The consistent damaging created comprehensive damages to the vessels and also ultimately jeopardized the leak-proof honesty of the Maersk Searcher, triggering it to handle water and also sink. Subsequently, the Maersk Shipper was likewise drawn under, so the staff on the Maersk Battler reduced both ships loose.

The record mentioned that the side-by-side lugging arrangement, which was criticised by some in the results of the event, was just one of 3 lugging approaches thought about for the task. The 2 others consisted of a dual tow utilizing 2 winches and also a serial tow (together).

In their examination right into the conditions bring about the crash, the DMAIB explains the crash as ‘systematic’ and also unconnected to any type of solitary occasion or activity aboard the Maersk Battler at the time.

“The DMAIB pertains to the foundering of MÆRSK SEARCHER and also MÆRSK carrier as a systemic crash. This suggests that neighborhood and also technological conditions unraveling aboard MÆRSK combatant throughout the trip can not be separated from the coming before organisational occasions and also conditions happening months previously. Thus, the examination of the foundering of MÆRSK SEARCHER and also MÆRSK carrier is two-fold. It concentrates on the technological conditions bring about the foundering of both ships and also on the organisational conditions helping with these technological conditions.

“It is concluded in the report that the loss of fenders, collision and flooding of the unmanned ships under tow had been addressed in the risk assessment carried out, and that risk mitigating initiatives were in place for each risk item. However, these initiatives were ineffective. The DMAIB concludes that the risk mitigating strategies were mainly focused on preventing risk factors in isolation and left little or no contingency for acute interaction between the risk factors,” the DMAIB record mentioned.

Maersk Shipper and also Maersk Searcher were previously had by Maersk Supply Service, however both were cost scrap previously in the year because of worldwide decrease in the oil and also gas sector. Being that the tow of the vessels belonged to Maersk Supply Services core solutions, the task was maintained internal.

The record mentioned that the business invested a minimum of 4 months getting ready for the tow and also the prep work entailed a a great deal of individuals

The aquatic crash record is offered here.