MESTRE SIMÃO Very Serious Maritime casualty
Vessel: MESTRE SIMÃO
GAMA reference: 2018-007
Data da ocorrência acidental: 06-01-2018
Circulated on: 06-08-2018
Published on: 06-09-2018
Summary
On 6 January 2018, the ferry MESTRE SIMÃO departed Horta for Madalena with 61 passengers and nine crew members on board. While approaching the Port of Madalena in a north-westerly swell of four to six metres and with following seas, the ship was overtaken by three waves, rapidly increased speed, lost directional control and grounded inside the port. The grounding caused extensive flooding. All passengers and crew members were evacuated in a liferaft that was towed to the quay. No serious injuries were reported.
Safety recommendations
SR01-2018/007,
Atlântico Line:
Assess including in the Safety Management System a checklist of weather and sea conditions to support the assessment of whether a voyage can be safely undertaken, continued or completed.
Lessons learned
The decision to enter a port should consider not only the forecast significant wave height, but also the likelihood of higher waves; in following seas, the ship may surf on a wave, increase speed and lose directional control; when conditions are incompatible with a safe entry, the ship should remain in the port of departure, turn back or proceed to another port; structured checklists support consistent operational decision-making; the planned and coordinated evacuation mitigated the consequences.