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Marine Safety Forum – Safety Flash 13-41

Issued: 14th October 2013 Subject: In Port Manoeuvring

Incident 1

A vessel was manoeuvring in port with two (of four) generators providing electrical power.

One generator shut down and the vessel lost power to a bow thruster, and one main propulsion

azimuth. The Master was unable to adequately control the ship with the remaining propulsion units

and collided with another vessel.

Considerable damage was caused to the other vessel, which fortunately was unmanned and there

were no injuries

Incident 2

A vessel was departing from port with one (of two) generator providing electrical power.

The generator failed which caused the controllable pitch propeller to default to full astern. By the

time the Master had shut down the main engine, the vessel had gathered sternway, and

subsequently collided with the harbour wall. Damage to the vessel’s rudder required dry-docking.

Fortunately again, there were no injuries.

In both cases an adequate risk assessment had not been carried out as to the consequences of a loss of generating capacity.

Both vessel owners have recommended that additional generating capacity be provided when

manoeuvring within the close confines of a port.

It is recommended that for offshore support vessels the configuration of engines and generators

which a ship uses when within the 500m zone should be used when manoeuvring in port.