Summary of the Accident
It was a typical day in Liverpool when the Sloyne Berth departed from the port towards the English Channel. The Ship carried large cargo, including industrial machinery, automobiles, and consumer goods. However, the weather conditions were not favorable. The port authorities had warned about low visibility due to thick fog. Despite the warning, the captain set sail as scheduled, hoping to reach their destination on time. As the Sloyne Berth navigated through the fog, the crew was on high alert, watching for any obstacles. Suddenly, the Ship was hit by an unknown object. The impact was strong enough to cause severe damage to the Ship, and it began to list to one side. The crew quickly acted, assessing the damage and stabilizing the vessel. It became apparent that the Ship had collided with another vessel, and the damage was severe. The captain immediately radioed for help, requesting assistance from the coast guard and nearby vessels. However, due to the low visibility caused by the fog, it took much work to locate Sloyne Berth’s exact position. As time passed, the situation on the Sloyne Berth worsened. The Ship was taking on water, and the crew struggled to keep the vessel afloat. The coast guard arrived at the scene and assisted in the rescue operation. However, the low visibility and harsh weather conditions made the operation challenging. The crew of the Sloyne Berth tried to launch lifeboats to evacuate the Ship, but the high winds and rough seas made it impossible. They were forced to abandon the Ship, jumping into the freezing waters of the English Channel. The coast guard worked tirelessly to rescue the crew, using helicopters and rescue boats to locate and retrieve them. Many crew members suffered from hypothermia and other injuries due to the cold and wet conditions. The cause of the accident was determined to be a collision with a smaller vessel, which was also navigating through the thick fog. The smaller vessel had failed to maintain a safe distance from the Sloyne Berth, resulting in the collision. The aftermath of the accident was devastating. The Sloyne Berth was a total loss, and its cargo was lost. Many crew members suffered injuries and trauma; some died in the accident.
Causal Factors Leading to the Accident
The lack of sufficient safety measures on vessels can lead to significant risks to the safety of crew members and can have severe consequences in the event of an accident (Chen et al., 2022). In the scenario involving the Sloyne Berth, the severity of the damage sustained by the Ship and the subsequent loss of cargo suggest that the vessel may not have had sufficient safety measures to mitigate the impact of a collision. Vessels must have adequate safety measures, such as life-saving equipment, fire-fighting equipment, and emergency response plans. Crew members should also be trained to handle emergencies and understand safety protocols. Regular safety inspections and maintenance of vessels can also ensure that safety measures are up to date and functioning correctly.
Failure to maintain a safe distance between the Ship led to collisions and accidents while navigating the waterways. In the scenario involving the Sloyne Berth, the collision occurred due to the failure of the smaller vessel to maintain a safe distance from the Ship. The smaller vessel’s crew’s lapse in judgment or error contributed to the incident. Seas must follow safety protocols, such as keeping a safe distance and communicating effectively with other vessels to avoid accidents (Chen et al., 2021). Crew members should also be trained to assess the situation and take necessary actions to avoid collisions, such as slowing down, changing course, or sounding warning signals. Inadequate crew training, a lack of proper communication, or a disregard for safety protocols can lead to accidents with severe consequences.
Human error can play a significant role in causing the accident while navigating through waterways (Fan et al., 2022). In the scenario involving Sloyne Berth, human error on the part of the vessel’s captain and the smaller vessel’s crew contributed to the incident. The captain of the Sloyne Berth decided to set sail despite adverse weather conditions, posing a significant risk to the vessel and its crew. The smaller vessel that collided with the Sloyne Berth failed to maintain a safe distance from the larger vessel, indicating a lapse in judgment or error on the part of the smaller vessel’s crew.
Lack of effective communication and coordination leads to the vulnerability of the vessel and crew members while navigating through waterways during challenging weather conditions. The Sloyne Berth incident highlights the need for better communication and coordination between ships. Inadequate communication can lead to a lack of situational awareness, misinterpretation of signals, and increased risk of accidents. To ensure effective communication, vessels should follow established communication protocols, such as radio or visual signals. Crew members should also be adequately trained to understand and use these communication protocols. Additionally, vessel coordination can help prevent accidents by allowing vessels to plan and execute maneuvers safely.
Analysis of What Went Wrong on Board the Ship
Human error is a significant cause of accidents in maritime operations, and the incident involving Sloyne Berth was due to the errors. The poor judgment by the captain to set sail in adverse weather conditions and the failure of the smaller vessel’s crew to maintain a safe distance from the Sloyne Berth are appropriate examples of human error leading to the accident. The crew’s lapses in judgment and mistakes can result in severe consequences, including loss of life and significant property damage. Maintaining a safe distance is critical in maritime operations to prevent collisions and other accidents. The incident involving Sloyne Berth is a clear example of the consequences of failing to maintain a safe distance. The collision occurred due to the smaller vessel’s crew’s failure to maintain a safe distance from the Sloyne Berth, contributing to the incident. The lapse in judgment and error highlights the lack of situational awareness and failure adherence to safety protocols leading to the accident.
The Sloyne Berth incident signified a need for better communication and coordination between vessels. The lack of effective communication and coordination between the crew members increased the risk of an accident culminating in a collision. Thus, the incident led to the accident due to a lack of proper communication channels and protocols to ensure the timely exchange of critical information, such as the location of vessels and weather conditions. Crew members must be adequately trained to operate communication equipment and understand the importance of effective communication and coordination during lousy weather. The severity of the damage sustained by the Sloyne Berth and the subsequent loss of cargo revealed the failure to have sufficient safety measures to mitigate the collision’s impact. The incident suggests that the vessel may need adequate safety measures, possibly due to various reasons such as inadequate training, a lack of proper communication, or a disregard for safety protocols. Failing to have safety measures in place to ensure the crew’s and the Ship’s safety, such as safety equipment, emergency response plans, and proper training, contributed to the accident. Proper safety protocols were not followed to minimize the risks of the accidents, such as the collision, and there failed to be the safety of the crew and the vessel.
The captain needed to have competently performed his role in ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew. In the case of the Sloyne Berth incident, the captain’s poor judgment in deciding to set sail despite adverse weather conditions posed a significant risk to the vessel and its crew. The captain’s decision increased the risk of an accident leading to the collision. The captain failed to assess the situation responsibly and make informed decisions prioritizing the vessel’s and crew’s safety. Proper training and experience are necessary for captains to make appropriate decisions and mitigate the risks of accidents.
Recommendation
Establishing a formal incident reporting and investigation process is essential to improve BRM training and procedures. By encouraging crew members to report all incidents and near-misses, the company can proactively identify and address potential risks (Wei et al., 2021). A thorough investigation can help identify the incident’s root cause and develop corrective actions to prevent a similar incident from occurring again. Feedback and recommendations from the incident investigation can be used to improve BRM training and procedures, ultimately improving the safety of the vessel and its crew. The company should ensure that crew members are aware of this process and understand the importance of promptly reporting incidents or near-misses.
Encouraging a culture of continuous learning and improvement is crucial to improving BRM training on the fleet of vessels. The crew members should be encouraged to share their experiences and lessons learned from previous incidents or near misses (Praetorius et al., 2020). Information sharing can help identify areas where training or procedures must be updated or improved. It can also foster a more open and transparent communication culture on the ships, which is essential for effective BRM. The company can organize regular training sessions to share best practices, discuss incidents or near misses across the fleet, and identify measures to prevent similar incidents.
To implement a robust safety culture, the company should involve all crew members in developing and reviewing safety policies and procedures. It will help to ensure that these policies are practical and effective in the real-world situations faced by the crew. On the same note, regular safety training and drills should be conducted to reinforce the importance of safety and provide crew members with the skills necessary to respond effectively to emergencies. Besides, the company should establish an open-door policy where crew members can raise safety concerns without fear of retribution. Thus, it will help to identify and address potential safety hazards before they result in an incident or accident.
In order to prevent a similar incident from occurring again, the company needs to ensure that all crew members receive adequate training and practice in using the latest navigation and communication equipment on board. The training should emphasize the relevance of adhering to the manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines for maintaining and using the equipment (Benz et al., 2021). Regular refresher training sessions should be provided to crew members to ensure they remain current with new technologies or updates. Further, the company should provide adequate resources and support to ensure equipment is regularly maintained and checked for malfunctions. The company will be able to enhance the safety of the crew and the vessel and help prevent incidents caused by equipment failure.
Likewise, the BRM training should emphasize the importance of situational awareness and the ability to make effective decisions in high-pressure situations. The training should also include simulation exercises and scenarios replicating potential incidents, allowing crew members to practice their response and decision-making skills in a safe environment. Also, the training should be ongoing and reinforced through regular refresher courses and assessments to ensure that crew members are always up-to-date with the latest protocols and procedures (Hayes et al., 2021). By investing in comprehensive and ongoing BRM training, the company can minimize the risk of incidents occurring and ensure the safety of crew members and vessels.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the accident investigation report of Sloyne Berth highlights the importance of safety measures, maintaining a safe distance between vessels, crew training, effective communication, and coordination while navigating through waterways. The incident’s analysis indicates that human error is a significant cause of accidents in maritime operations, and it can result in severe consequences. It is vital to implement adequate safety measures, train crew members to handle emergencies, follow established communication protocols, and maintain vessels regularly to ensure safety. Maintaining a safe distance between vessels and effective communication and coordination can help prevent accidents. It is crucial to address these factors to ensure the safety of crew members, prevent property damage, and save lives. The incident involving Sloyne Berth serves as a reminder of the significance of safety in maritime operations and the need to address factors that can lead to accidents.
References
Benz, L., Münch, C. and Hartmann, E., 2021. Development of a search and rescue framework for maritime freight shipping in the Arctic. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 152, pp.54-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2021.07.006
Chen, P., Li, M. and Mou, J., 2021. A velocity obstacle-based real-time regional ship collision risk analysis method. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(4), p.428. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9040428
Chen, P., Zhang, Z., Huang, Y., Dai, L. and Hu, H., 2022. Risk assessment of marine accidents with Fuzzy Bayesian Networks and causal analysis. Ocean & Coastal Management, 228, p.106323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2022.106323
Fan, S., Blanco-Davis, E., Yang, Z., Zhang, J., & Yan, X. (2020). Incorporation of human factors into maritime accident analysis using a data-driven Bayesian network. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 203, 107070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2020.107070
Hayes, P., Bearman, C., Butler, P. and Owen, C., 2021. Non‐technical skills for emergency incident management teams: A literature review. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 29(2), pp.185-203. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.12341
Maternová, A., Materna, M. and Dávid, A., 2022. Revealing causal factors influencing sustainable and safe navigation in central Europe. Sustainability, 14(4), p.2231.
Praetorius, G., Hult, C. and Österman, C., 2020. Maritime resource management: current training approaches and potential improvements. TransNav, International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, 14(3), pp.573-584. https://doi.org/10.12716/1001.14.03.08
Wei, A., Wang, H., Li, D. and He, X., 2021, November. Research and Practice on Course Design of Ship Bridge Resource Management: Working Process Systematic Curriculum Development Based on the Grey Correlation Big Data Analysis. In 2021 2nd International Conference on Information Science and Education (ICISE-IE) (pp. 1107-1113). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICISE-IE53922.2021.00251
write