Safety lessons learned from grounding of Hoegh Osaka

Meridian
Hoegh Osaka
Technology
Thursday 17 March 2016 at 12:01am

The car and truck carrier grounded on the Bramble Bank Credit: ITV

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a report into the investigation of the listing, flooding and grounding of the car and truck carrier Hoegh Osaka on the Bramble Bank in the Solent on 3 January last year.

Accompanying the report, a safety flyer has been produced highlighting key safety lessons arising from the accident which the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents urges the industry to take forward.

Chaotic scene on board Credit: MAIB

Vehicles on board were badly damaged Credit: MAIB

The cargo ship had inadequate stability Credit: MAIB

Stability modelling and analysis following the accident show that Hoegh Osaka heeled heavily to starboard while turning as a result of having departed port with inadequate stability. Cargo distribution was such that the upper vehicle decks were full while the lower vehicle decks were lightly loaded. Hoegh Osaka was low on bunker fuel oil, which was stored low down in the ship, and the ship’s overall vertical centre of gravity (VCG) was relatively high. Hoegh Osaka’s inadequate stability had not been identified prior to departure. The figures in the pre-stowage plan were significantly different to the final cargo tally; the estimated weight of many items of cargo was less than their actual weight; and no allowance was made for the VCG of the cargo loaded being above deck level. Finally, it was onboard practice to alter the ballast tank quantity readings on the loading computer so its output would match the observed draught readings. It would have been possible to embark additional ballast prior to departure to reduce the ship’s VCG as necessary, but as the shortcoming in stability had not been identified this was not done.

The ship's stability did not meet minimum international requirements Credit: MAIB

Chaos on board the ship after the grounding Credit: MAIB