GILBERTO MARIANO - Very Serious Maritime Casualty
Vessel: GILBERTO MARIANO
GAMA reference: 2014-257
Data da ocorrência acidental: 14-11-2014
Circulated on: 21-09-2016
Published on: 15-05-2015
Casualty Event: Damage to ship / equipment
Summary
On 14 November 2014, GILBERTO MARIANO was conducting its fourth berthing manoeuvre of the day at the Ro-Ro terminal in São Roque do Pico. The ferry approached astern to berth port side alongside and position its stern ramp at the terminal ramp. At 2051, two stern lines were secured to the same shore bollard while the crew prepared the stern spring and forward line. A long-period wave travelling along the quay lifted the vessel’s stern and caused a sudden forward movement. The resulting load on the stern lines caused the shore bollard to fracture and be projected onto the vessel. The bollard struck the after rail and deckhead of the first deck and fatally injured a passenger waiting nearby to disembark. Assistance was provided aboard, but evacuation was delayed by the sea conditions and the type of harbour craft available. The passenger was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
Safety recommendations
SR 257-2014.1: Assess carrying out immediate detailed inspections and load tests of bollards in ports under the responsibility of Portos dos Açores, S.A., replacing or upgrading equipment as necessary to meet applicable international recommendations and original design specifications. No response status is recorded in the report. SR 257-2014.2: Assess developing procedures for maintenance personnel and quay managers to ensure regular maintenance of equipment provided for vessel mooring. No response status is recorded in the report.
SR 257-2014.3: Assess, in cooperation with regular passenger and vehicle transport operators, reviewing berthing conditions for Ro-Ro passenger and other passenger vessels and providing safe arrangements, including suitably positioned and rated bollards where necessary, at the
Azores ports used by those vessels. No response status is recorded in the report.
SR 257-2014.4: Assess immediately reviewing the mooring arrangements of the two Ro-Ro passenger ferries so that passenger embarkation and disembarkation remain safe, excessively oversized lines are no longer used and stern-ramp movement is minimised without using propulsion for stabilisation. No response status is recorded in the report.
SR 257-2014.5: Assess as soon as practicable the principal hazards associated with berthing and remaining alongside at each port of call, including defining limiting weather and sea conditions and the most appropriate manoeuvres and mooring arrangements. No response status is recorded in the report.
Lessons learned
Harbour mooring equipment should be subject to documented inspection, maintenance and load testing. Berths used by Ro-Ro passenger vessels should provide suitably positioned and rated mooring points for the vessels that regularly call. Mooring lines should be compatible with shipboard and shore equipment, and mooring arrangements should distribute loads effectively. Passengers should remain clear of mooring decks and potential snap-back or equipment-projection zones until the vessel is safely secured