Grounding of general cargo vessel Fri Ocean
Location: 2½ miles south of Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland.
Accident Investigation Report 26/2013
Investigation report into marine accident including what happened, safety lessons and recommendations made:
(2,439.56 kb)
Summary
On 14 June 2013, the general cargo vessel Fri Ocean ran aground 2½ miles south of Tobermory, Isle of Mull. The vessel’s bow shell plating and frames were damaged resulting in flooding to the bow thruster room. The crew carried out a temporary repair, and the vessel was re-floated.
Safety lessons
- the second officer who was alone on watch, fell asleep, largely through lack of stimulation possibly exacerbated by fatigue, shortly after making a course alteration at 0256
- none of the alarms fitted to the GPS and ECS were loud enough to wake the sleeping officer
- a bridge navigational watch alarm system that could have alerted the crew to the second officer sleeping was probably not in use
Recommendations
Recommendations (2013/247 & 248) have been made to the vessel’s manager, Kopervik Ship Management AS, designed to enhance its safety management system with regard to: the use of lookouts and the BNWAS; fatigue management and navigational requirements; and improving the auditing and verification of its navigational policy.
Published: 6 December 2013