Pilot would have prevented Gibraltar collision, report finds
Bulk carrier OS 35 collided with LNG carrier Adam LNG off Gibraltar in August 2022
An accident report by the Gibraltar Maritime Administration has suggested that pilotage become compulsory for departures from Gibraltar, as it is for arrivals
A COLLISION off Gibraltar that resulted in the loss of a bulk carrier in August 2022 could have been prevented if a pilot were on board, an accident investigation report has found.
The report, published by the Gibraltar Maritime Administration, has suggested that pilotage become compulsory for departures from the port, as they are for arrivals.
Tuvalu-flagged, 1999-built, 35,362 dwt bulk carrier OS 35 (IMO: 9172399) was departing Gibraltar at around 2130 hrs on August 29, 2022, after taking on bunkers. It was carrying a cargo of steel rebars, as well as several hundred tonnes of fuel oil.
The bulker’s master ordered the main engine dead slow astern and then increased speed to 2.6 knots. The effect of transverse thrust (sideways force) swung OS 35’s bow to starboard.
At around 2202 hrs, the bulker’s master was concerned his vessel was getting too close to Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier Adam LNG (IMO: 9501186), and so set the rudder to port and engine to full power ahead.
About 2211 hrs, the starboard side of OS 35 made contact with the bulbous bow of Adam LNG.
Gibraltar vessel traffic service ordered OS 35 to ground to avoid it sinking into deeper waters. The bulker was declared a total loss. Damage to Adam LNG on the other hand was considered minor and was repaired while the LNG carrier was alongside.
The report found that the master of OS 35 “made an error of judgement, which was not detected by the bridge team” when departing Gibraltar’s Western Anchorage. As the bulker was moving astern and its heading continued to swing starboard, the report found that it would have passed well clear ahead of Adam LNG, but the master’s perception of wind and tidal flow caused the change in engine power to full power ahead.
This actually caused the collision, rather than avoiding it, the report found. Had a pilot embarked, “it is considered very likely that an alternative manoeuvre would have been used to depart the anchorage” and “very likely that the collision would have been prevented”, the report said.
The owner/operator of OS 35 has been recommended to ensure that the planning of all manoeuvres to and from anchorages is included in passage planning, especially when a pilot is not on board.
But the report has also recommended that the Gibraltar Port Authority consider introducing compulsory pilotage for vessels departing the Western Anchorage. Pilotage is already compulsory when entering the port or its anchorages.
