The master of a Netherlands- signed up freight ship was consuming before when his vessel ran grounded in Northern Ireland last October, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch stated in its record on the occurrence.

The basic freight vessel M/V Ruyter ran grounded on the north coast of Rathlin Island after 11 p.m on 10 October 2017 when the master, that was the single watchkeeper at the time, left the bridge ignored.

The examination disclosed that the master had actually been consuming alcohol before taking control of the watch from the primary police officer. However, the primary police officer, that had actually formerly alerted the master versus extreme usage of alcohol, was pleased that the master was suitabled for watchkeeping obligations.

The MAIB better kept in mind that the bridge navigational watch security system, which might have informed the primary police officer to the reality that the bridge was unmanned when the master left, had actually been turned off. Consequently, no activity was required to deal with a discrepancy from the ship’s prepared track, the MAIB stated.

The MAIB detailed 3 safety and security lessons from its examination.

First, the MAIB figured out that when the single watchkeeper left the bridge ignored as well as the bridge navigational watch alarm system was shut off, there was no ways to signal the primary police officer to the reality that the bridge was unmanned. More undoubtedly, the usage of alcohol before taking control of the watch had a damaging result on the master’s capacity to keep a secure navigational watch.

Finally, the MAIB mentioned that although the primary police officer had worries concerning the master’s extreme alcohol usage, he did not really feel completely encouraged to elevate the issue with the firm.

The MAIB did not make any kind of referrals in the record.

Link to the MAIB Report: Grounding of general cargo vessel Ruyter

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