A Great Lakes bulkers was damaged in a grounding after its captain took on too many responsibilities at once.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the accident involving the 36,200-dwt American Mariner (built 1980) happened on 7 January last year while it was outbound in the Vidal Shoals Channel, near Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, heading from Canada to Superior in Wisconsin.
No pollution or injuries were reported, but repairs to the ship cost $600,000.
The bulker sustained an 80-foot (24-metre) hull indentation and holes in three ballast tanks, as well as damage to bottom plating.
NTSB said the probable cause of the grounding was the master manoeuvring the American Mariner away from the dock and into the channel while alone on the bridge.
This required him to multi-task, handling navigation, steering and lookout duties.
The result was the bulker overshooting the turn into the channel and running aground on the shoals on the opposite side.
As the master straightened the vessel to head outbound, he felt a “light shudder”, the report said.
“While manoeuvring in confined waters, it is difficult for a single bridge crew member to effectively drive, lookout, and monitor and use available bridge equipment,” the NTSB said.
Typically, manoeuvres such as docking or undocking, transiting in or out of port, or operating in areas of high traffic density require additional personnel to handle navigation-related duties, the board added.
It reminded owners, operators and masters that they are responsible for ensuring that bridge teams are staffed with a sufficient number of qualified personnel.
The ship is owned by American Steamship, which has been contacted for comment.
