Houston Ship Channel Collision: NTSB’s Preliminary Marine Accident Report

The NTSB on Friday launched its Preliminary Marine Accident Report on the March ninth collision between the chemical tanker MT Carla Maersk and MV Conti Peridot within the Houston Ship Channel close to Morgan’s Point in higher Galveston Bay. The collision resulted in harm to the each vessels and the spillage of the gas additive MTBE from the Carla Maersk. The Houston Ship Channel was shut three days as the results of the accident.

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The full textual content of the NTSB Preliminary Marine Accident Report:

On Monday, March 9, 2015, at about 1231 central daylight time, the Liberian registered, 623-foot-long bulk provider Conti Peridot and the 599-foot-long Danish flagged chemical tanker Carla Maersk collided close to buoys 89 and 90 within the Houston Ship Channel, Upper Galveston Bay, southeast of Morgan’s Point, Texas.
After weighing anchor offshore on the entrance to the Houston Ship Channel and boarding a pilot, the Conti Peridot proceeded inbound at about 0930 up the channel to City Dock 24 to discharge its cargo of metal rolls. About the identical time, the Carla Maersk departed Kinder Morgan Terminal in Galena Park, Texas, with a pilot on board and carrying 216,049 barrels (bbls) of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) outbound for Venezuela.
The Conti Peridot acquired below approach in good visibility. The Carla Maersk departed in mild rain with a low cloud ceiling. As the vessels proceeded with their transits, radio transmissions between vessels reported creating fog within the Houston Ship Channel. At 1130, Houston Pilots suspended pilot boarding on the entrance channel as a consequence of fog. Piloted vessels already below approach continued their transits.
An hour later, with visibility estimated by the Conti Peridot pilot to be a ship’s size, preliminary information point out each vessels have been at half-ahead touring simply over 8 knots as they approached one another south of Morgan’s Point.
The pilot on the Conti Peridot was having hassle returning to the channel heart after passing one other vessel and initiated a port-to-port passing association with the pilot on the Carla Maersk. After this association was made, preliminary information present the Conti Peridot moved to the left aspect of the channel after which again to the precise. At this time, the Conti Peridot pilot ordered exhausting starboard and full forward in an effort to counter his vessel’s anticipated motion to the left. The pilot on the Conti Peridot warned the pilot on the Carla Maersk that he was coming again throughout the centerline of the channel towards his vessel. When the pilot on the Carla Maersk noticed the bow of the Conti Peridot emerge from the fog, he ordered exhausting starboard and full forward in an effort to keep away from what he perceived to be an imminent collision.
The Conti Peridot’s bow struck the port aspect of the Carla Maersk, penetrating the 2 port wing ballast tanks and the no. 4 port cargo tank, which held about 15,495 bbls of MTBE. After the impression, the Carla Maersk developed a port listing, and the crew took motion to maneuver cargo and ballast to appropriate the listing. No accidents have been reported onboard both vessel.
MTBE is a colorless, flammable liquid with a turpentine-like odor; its vapors are heavier than air, and it’s miscible in water. The Houston Port Authority initially responded to the incident because of the launch of hazardous supplies, and a Unified Command was established quickly after the collision to handle the emergency response operations and planning.
The US Coast Guard labeled the accident as a significant marine casualty. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead federal investigative company for the accident, launched a workforce of investigators and a Board Member to the scene the next morning.
While on scene, investigators retrieved information from vessel voyage information recorders (VDR), digital navigation techniques, and alarms in addition to closed circuit tv techniques alongside the waterway. Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Houston information have been additionally collected. Investigators famous the operational situation of propulsion equipment and examined the steering techniques aboard every vessel. They additionally interviewed officers and crewmembers from each vessels, the 2 Houston pilots, and VTS watchstanders. Drug and alcohol testing was carried out for related personnel. Results are pending right now.
Parties to the investigation are the US Coast Guard, Carla Maersk proprietor, Conti Peridot proprietor, flag administrations for Liberia and Denmark, Houston Pilot Association, and the Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports. Via NTSB