The Dutch Safety Board has published its investigation report on the collision and capsizing of tug Fairplay 22 as it assisted the Stena Britannica at the Nieuwe Waterweg near Hook of Holland on 11 November 2010. In this accident two crew men were killed and one was injured. One of the Board’s findings was that the Netherlands lacks a specific training programme for tug boat captains.
Direct Cause of the Colision
– The high speed through the water was a crucial factor.
– The investigation could not determine to what extent the captain of Fairplay 22’s restricted view, his time to react and the influence of the wind contributed to the collision.
Direct Cause of Capsizing
– Fairplay 22 was unable to move away from Stena Britannica’s bow after the collision.
– Fairplay 22 was pushed over and subsequently capsized, which was accelerated by the water flooding in. The tug’s limited design stability and the weathertight openings that had not been closed also contributed.
Underlying Causes
– Fairplay 22 did not have the required level of safety in accordance with the stability requirements and the stability criteria for modern tugs.
– Fairplay failed to investigate whether its vessels’ stability needed to be improved.
– Fairplay’s safety management system showed multiple shortcomings.
– Stena’s safety management system also showed shortcomings.
– Stena has not incorporated any safety related aspects in order to ensure safety in the price agreements with Fairplay.
– The Port of Rotterdam Harbour Master issued a PEC to the Stena Britannica captain without any substantial evaluation on the subject matter regarding the training the captain had participated in, thereby allowing the Stena Britannica captain to use tug assistance without taking a pilot onboard.
– Contrary to his policy, the Harbour Master also did not require him to participate in the three-yearly refresher training.
– Flag state inspections by Antigua & Barbuda and Port State Control inspections by the Dutch Transport, Public Works and Water Management Inspectorate did not detect that Fairplay 22 did not comply with the stability requirements.
– Transport & Offshore Services failed to monitor that Fairplay provided the captain with a hazard identification and analysis.
Other Findings
– The Netherlands has no specific training programme for tug captains. Consequently, knowledge and experience of the sector-specific risks is not shared on a structural basis such as in a training programme.
– Due to the absence of a Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) on board Fairplay 22 a number of aspects could not be established with certainty in the accident reconstruction.
https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/index.php/onderzoeken/sleepboot-omgeslagen-hoek-van-holland-11-november-2010/#rapporten[Download the Dutch Safety Board’s full report here.]
Source: https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/index.php/onderzoeken/sleepboot-omgeslagen-hoek-van-holland-11-november-2010/#rapporten[Dutch Safety Board
