Germany’s NautiCore Shipping has questioned the safety of NAABSA (not always afloat but safely aground) berths at a UK port following a port state control detention last month.
The company’s 4,800-dwt multipurpose Indiana Jones (built 1989) was held with hull cracking at Bromborough.
NautiCore told TradeWinds the ship had arrived at the Merseyside terminal on 13 December.
“It was declared that our vessel will be safe aground during low tide at the discharging berth,” the company said.
But the owner added that unfortunately, during discharging operations, the ship made contact with the sea bed and suffered damage.
“The vessel immediately reported to the harbour master and advised that the berth is not safe. Harbour master then decided to shift the vessel to another berth which was then safely aground with soft soil,” Nauticor said.
The Indiana Jones was later detained and the damage assessed.
After further inspections by the class society, it was shown that there was only minor damage inside the tank.
The ship was then able to leave port.
“This incident was caused because of an unsuitable NAABSA berth,” NautiCore said.
NAABSA is used to describe ports where the sea bed is suitable for the vessel to rest at low tide without damage to its hull.
Bromborough is run by Victoria Group, which has been contacted for comment.
The Indiana Jones was one of four ships detained in the UK last month.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship had 21 deficiencies, with eight grounds for detention.
These included inoperative steering gear and the cracked hull impairing seaworthiness.
Rescue boats were not ready for use and there were also faults with the launching arrangements for these.
The vessel was released on 22 December.
