The sole watchkeeper of the UK-flagged Lysblink Seaways was drunk when the ship ran aground earlier this yr in Scotland, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch mentioned in its investigation report launched Thursday.

The common cargo ship was on passage from Belfast to Skogn, Norway on February 18, 2015 when it ran aground at full velocity close to Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan peninsula, West Scotland.

The vessel was declared a complete loss after spending nearly 2 days aground throughout hostile climate. The grounding resulted in materials injury to its hull and the double backside was breached, together with some gasoline tanks, leading to 25 tonnes of marine fuel oil getting into the water, the MAIB mentioned. The ship has since been scrapped.

The MAIB investigation discovered that the officer of the watch (OOW) – who was chief officer of the vessel and sole watchkeeper on the time – had change into inattentive as a result of results of alcohol consumption. According to the MAIB, whereas off obligation in his cabin, the officer drank .5 liters of rum after receiving a personal telephone name that trigger him anxiousness.

The MAIB additionally discovered that the bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) had not been switched on and an off-track alarm on the Electronic Chart System (ECS) had been silenced. Although a radar watch alarm had sounded each 6 minutes, the OOW was capable of reset the alarm with out leaving his chair, the MAIB mentioned.

In its investigation, the MAIB recognized a number of issues of safety, however didn’t didn’t present any advice as a consequence of actions already taken by the vessel’s proprietor, DFDS A/S. The issues of safety recognized and actions taken are listed under:

Safety Issues

• The OOW misplaced situational consciousness whereas inebriated.
• A lookout on the bridge would have been properly positioned to alert the grasp to the OOW’s situation and that navigational waypoints had been missed.
• Had the BNWAS been switched on it’s possible that the OOW would have realised at an earlier stage {that a} navigation waypoint had been missed.
• It is unlikely that the vessel would have ended up exhausting aground had the preparation of an acceptable and detailed passage plan been agreed and entered into the ECS. Available security options would then have been out there with alarms to alert the OOW.
• The proprietor’s zero alcohol coverage had not been successfully carried out in accordance with the security administration system (SMS) regardless of common audits.
• Shortcomings, recognized in an earlier MAIB report, relating to the Lys Line security tradition had been nonetheless prevalent on Lysblink Seaways, regardless of a change of possession.

Actions Taken

The vessel’s proprietor, DFDS A/S, has taken motion to reinforce compliance with the SMS on sister vessels, with specific emphasis on management of alcohol consumption and bridge useful resource administration.

In view of the actions already taken, no suggestions have been made.

Full Report: MAIB investigation report 25-2015: Lysblink Seaways

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