RUSICH-1- Maritime Incident
Vessel: RUSICH-1
GAMA reference: 2014-005
Data da ocorrência acidental: 06-01-2014
Circulated on: 09-11-2014
Published on: 12-11-2014
Casualty Event: Loss of containment
Summary
On 6 January 2014, the general cargo vessel RUSICH-1 was at anchor off São João do Estoril when it began to drag its anchor under the combined effects of strong winds and a swell exceeding 10 metres. Over a period of approximately 19 minutes, the vessel drifted from a distance of 0.40 nautical miles from the coast to at least 0.16 nautical miles. The crew prepared and engaged the main engine, manoeuvred the vessel while the anchor was still on the seabed, and successfully moved away from the coast. One crew member sustained a fractured leg during the anchor-weighing operation. There was no damage to the vessel, third parties, or the environment.
Safety recommendations
SR01-2014/005, to the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) of the Port of Lisbon.
Assess implementing an anchored-vessel dragging alert whenever a vessel leaves its swing circleanchorage limits, with immediate contactreferral to the local maritime authority.
SR02-2014/005, VTS of the Port of Lisbon and Local Maritime Authority:
Assess establishing procedures governing coordinationcommunication for monitoring anchored vessels. SR03-2014/005, à DGAM: Assess advising harbour masters not to permit use of anchorages close to shore when very adverse meteo-oceanographic conditions prevail.
Lessons learned