Accident Investigation Board Blames Boozy Officer for Shipwreck

UK – The Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) has released its findings on the grounding of the general cargo vessel Lysblink Seaways on February 18, 2015, while on her way from Belfast to Skogn, Norway. The ship ran aground at full speed near Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan peninsula, West Scotland and the MAIB investigation found that the officer of the watch had been heavily inebriated despite a zero tolerance stance taken by the vessel’s owner, DFDS.

The Lysblink Seaways remained on the rocky foreshore for almost 2 days during adverse weather. This resulted in material damage to its hull and the vessel’s double bottom was breached, including some fuel tanks, resulting in 25 tonnes of marine gas oil entering the water. After the salvage the vessel was declared a constructive total loss and scrapped. At the time of grounding she had been carrying 50 tonnes of waste paper.

The MAIB investigation found that the officer of the watch, who was the sole watch keeper, had become inattentive due to the effects of alcohol consumption. The 36 year old Russian Chief Officer had drank half a litre of rum before taking watch of the 7,409 gross tonne vessel. The bridge navigational watch alarm system had not been switched on and an off-track alarm on the Electronic Chart System had been silenced. Although a radar watch alarm had sounded every 6 minutes, the 0fficer of the watch was able to reset the alarm without leaving his chair.

The vessel’s owner, DFDS A/S, has since taken action to enhance compliance with the safety management system (SMS) on sister vessels, with particular emphasis on control of alcohol consumption and bridge resource management.