Completed PE Summary
Luvly Jubbly
| Category: | Merchant |
| Vessel name: | Luvly Jubbly(ex Oliver Felix) |
| Registered Owner: | David Welsh |
| Port of Registry: | N/A |
| Flag: | N/A |
| Classification Society: | N/A |
| Type: | Tug |
| Built: | 1962 |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Length overall: | 28.66m |
| Gross tonnage: | 144/160 |
| Date & Time: | 1349 Local time 23 October to 0100 24 October 2007 |
| Location of incident: | West of Isle of Portland / Weymouth Bay |
| Incident Type: | Mechanical failure followed by grounding of the barge |
| Persons onboard: | 5 |
| Injuries/fatalities: | Nil |
| Damage/pollution: | Nil |
| Category: | Merchant |
| Vessel name: | Dumb Barge - Long Sands |
| Type: | Dumb barge with 2 spud legs |
| Built: | 1962 |
| Construction: | Steel |
| Length overall: | 32.69m |
| Gross tonnage: | 189.64 |
| Date & Time: | 1349 Local time 23 October to 0100 24 October 2007 |
| Damage/pollution: | Minimal leak of fuel from barge and deck crane |
Synopsis
The tug Luvly Jubbly towing the barge Long Sands, on passage from Cowes to Plymouth, sought shelter from the increasing winds and sea in West Bay. The tug lost power when the fuel supply failed, west of Portland Isle, and they drifted south with the tide. Luvly Jubbly, having regained limited power, was escorted by the RNLI lifeboat into Weymouth Bay where the tug, rafted to the barge, anchored to complete engine repairs and wait for a suitable tidal flow to round Portland Isle. The wind was forecast to back north-easterly and then decrease overnight. During the evening, the wind unexpectedly veered to the south-east and increased, exposing the tug and tow to a lee shore.
As the conditions deteriorated, the mooring lines between the tug and barge started to break and the anchor dragged. The tug skipper transferred to the barge to attempt to re-secure the lines as the barge grounded close to shore. The skipper was returned to Luvly Jubbly by the lifeboat, and attempts to recover the barge were postponed. Overnight, the barge listed and the portable crane fell from the deck, remaining attached to both Long Sands and the seabed, holding the barge in position.
Action taken:
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the MCA Chief Executive encouraging him to make every effort to introduce the SCV Code as quickly as possible, and to review the manning requirements for Coded vessels on longer and more complex voyages.
The Chief Inspector has also written to the owner of Luvly Jubbly strongly advising that an additional trained person is employed during towing operations and extended voyages, and to seek to have the tug either Classified or Coded under the SCV Code at the soonest opportunity.
Published: January 2008
