Faulty weather forecast reception equipment on a general cargoship led to a serious collision in a storm off the UK two years ago.
A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has revealed that the Saga Shipholding-owned 47,000-dwt Saga Sky (built 1996) was passing through the Dover Strait when Storm Angus struck in November 2016.
It collided with the rock-carrying barge Stema Barge II about two miles off the south coast of England.
Both vessels were driven towards the shore, and severed two subsea power cables.
MAIB said the south-westerly wind and tidal stream significantly reduced Saga Sky's progress.
Turn could not be completed
The master attempted to turn the ship to starboard to steer a reciprocal course and run with the weather until the storm abated.
"The effect of the wind acting on the ship’s cranes and aft superstructure overcame the turning moment of the rudder and prevented the turn from being completed," it added.
Despite maintaining propulsion, Saga Sky was blown broadside over a distance of approximately 7.4 nautical miles while the master continued with his attempts to turn the vessel to starboard until it collided with Stema Barge II.
"The combination of wind and tide propelled Saga Sky, beam on to the wind, at speeds of up to 9kts, and even after deploying both anchors the ship continued to move under the effects of the storm," MAIB said.
MAIB found deficiencies with the ship’s weather forecast reception facilities, deficiencies in the sea defence project planning process, and potential shortfalls in the provision of emergency response assets.
It said that on passage, Saga Sky’s weather fax and Navtex receiver were both defective, which limited the vessel’s ability to receive live and forecast weather information.
"In the absence of vessel-specific guidance as a reference for assessing the effect of forecast weather conditions would have on Saga Sky’s manoeuvrability, the master was reliant solely on his own knowledge and experience," it added.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been asked to commission a study to review the full range of emergency response assets available in the Dover Strait area.
Saga Sky’s manager, Anglo-Eastern, has been recommended to enhance its shipboard procedures in respect of heavy weather operational guidance.
