Completed PE Summary
Audacity
| Vessel name | Audacity |
| Category | Merchant |
| Registered Owner & Manager: | James Fisher Group, Everard Shipping |
| Port of registry: | London |
| Flag: | UK |
| Type: | Products Tanker |
| Built: | 1997 |
| Classification society: | Lloyds Register |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Length overall: | 88.76m |
| Gross tonnage: | 2965 |
| Date & Time | Main engine failure 19 April at 0030 Injury to crewman 21 April at 0728 |
| Location of incident: | Main engine failed 8nm East of Flamborough Head Injury to crewman occurred 1nm East of Fairway buoy off Aberdeen |
| Incident Type: | Main engine failure followed by an injury to crewman |
| Persons onboard: | 8 |
| Injuries/ fatalities: | 1 crewman suffered multiple injuries when a towing messenger parted |
| Damage/ Pollution: | Main engine lubrication oil cooler failed. No pollution |
| Vessel name | Red Wolf |
| Category | Merchant |
| Registered Owner & Manager: | Remolcadores de Puerto y Altura SA (REPASA) |
| Port of registry: | Santa Cruz de Tenerife |
| Flag: | Spain |
| Type: | Multi purpose tug |
| Built: | 2005 |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Length overall: | 35.17m |
| Gross tonnage: | 476gt |
| Date & Time | 21 April at 0728 |
| Location of incident: | 1nm East of Fairway buoy off Aberdeen |
| Persons onboard: | 6 |
| Injuries/ fatalities: | None |
| Damage/ Pollution: | None |
Synopsis
Audacity had been previously been involved in a collision which had damaged the vessel’s bow. Temporary repairs had been completed and the vessel had dispensation to sail from Immingham to Aberdeen to discharge cargo and then onwards to a repair port. A few hours after leaving Immingham, the main engine had to be shut down when the oil cooler developed a serious leak. The cooler could not be repaired and there were no alternative arrangements to either cool the oil or provide emergency propulsion, consequently the vessel had to be taken in tow by the tug Red Wolf.
The damage to Audacity’s bow prevented a single tow wire from being used and the tug prepared a bridle to attach to bollards on the forecastle deck. The tow was uneventful until arrival at Aberdeen where arrangements had been made to anchor off the fairway bouy whilst technicians came onboard to repair the oil cooler. On arrival, Audacity began to slip the tow using the vessel’s mooring ropes as messengers in preparation for anchoring. A combination of the weight of the tow, the mooring lines becoming caught in their storage drums and the tug moving ahead to prevent the tow fouling her propellers, overloaded the connection between Audacity’s messenger and the towing gear. The connection failed, causing the messenger to recoil onto the forecastle of Audacity, striking one of her crewmen who suffered serious injury.
Action taken:
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the: Owner and Managers of Audacity, strongly advising that they
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Review the shipboard planning and execution of unusual and emergency seamanship procedures such as towing and develop robust procedures to recognise areas where personnel lack sufficient specialist skills and experience to conduct tasks safely. In such cases, implement appropriate measures to provide additional guidance and support to crews;
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Emphasise the need for effective communications to be maintained between company vessels and tugs, or other vessels, engaged in towing.
Additionally, they should recognise the potential for the concentration and performance of crew who have been involved in accidents to diminish and, if necessary, make early arrangements for them to be relieved without prejudice to blame or liability.
