Executive summary
On Sunday 14 July 2002, at about 1830, the coastal cargo ship "Kent" parted a mooring line while attempting to berth in storm force winds at Glasgow Wharf in Wellington Harbour. Subsequently, as the ship was proceeding back out into the harbour, it struck a pontoon and was holed below the waterline in way of the engine room. The engine room progressively flooded and the ship lost all power. The "Kent" anchored near Point Jerningham before being towed to the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where repairs were affected and the engine room pumped out.
Safety issues identified included:
· identification of significant risk for shipboard operations
· management of available personnel in order that tasks may be completed with minimum risk and maximum safety
· no watertight division between the engine room and the main vehicle deck
Safety recommendations were made to the Operations Manager of Strait Shipping Limited to address the safety issues.
Related Recommendations
Ensure that crewing levels on all company ships are sufficient to enable the ship to be operated safely in all circumstances. Consideration should be given to effective management of on- and off-duty staff.
Investigate the watertight integrity of the company’s ships with a view to enhancing their ability to withstand flooding damage. Consider upgrading the ships’ stability data to enable the master of the ship to calculate by rapid and simple means the residual stability of the ship under varying conditions of service, including a damaged condition.
Undertake a risk analysis of critical voyage events to identify areas of significant risk and counter measures necessary to minimise the hazard to personnel, ship and harbour installations.