Crew saved but ship lost after it starts listing
When coming on board a vessel, make sure you know the state it is in. In addition, always be prepared for heavy weather. In a recent Mars Report, a ship started listing without the crew...Read more
Officer of the watch alone at night results in grounding
Sailing in restricted waters in darkness requires close attention to navigation, even if visibility is good. A recent Mars Report describes a small tug grounding and subsequently sinking because the officer of the watch was...Read more
‘Port of Rotterdam was not well prepared for oil spill Bow Jubail’
The port of Rotterdam was insufficiently prepared for a calamity, as happened almost two years ago with the Bow Jubail. More than two hundred tonnes of fuel oil ended up in the water. The Dutch Safety...Read more
Do you know how sensitive the touchscreens on your ship are?
Touchscreen interfaces on control panels are raising new issues when it comes to vessel control. In recent Mars Reports, one ship lost engine power and subsequently grounded after accidental activation of the engine shutdown command...Read more
Quick action helps avoid vessel grounding
Quick and effective action in an urgent situation is often possible when the crew are thoroughly familiar with their ship. This was the lesson learned from a recent Mars Report in which a crew managed...Read more
Jumbo: ‘No evidence cranes came into contact in Rostock incident’
With the salvage operation of the Liebherr cranes that sunk in Rostock Port underway, the investigation into the cause of the accident is still ongoing. ‘Although a very complex matter, there is currently no evidence...Read more
Distracted officer of the watch results in vessel grounding
Distractions on the bridge are often cited in investigation reports as contributing factors and now more than ever, with mobile phones and computers. In a recent Mars Report, a vessel grounded as the officer of...Read more
Don’t count on tide to keep your ship on course
Although weather conditions will definitely impact a ship’s navigation, counting on them to keep to a certain course poses a high risk. A recent Mars Report describes a passenger ship hitting rocks after it was...Read more
These measures should be taken on board when soot blowing
In a recent Mars Report a fire broke out on board a tanker after a soot particle landed on a canvas covering after soot blowing. To prevent such incidents, a number of risk control measures...Read more
Tanker collides with fishing vessel in plain sight
Monitor other vessels and targets until all clear and do not undertake other tasks while navigating. This seems simple advice, but still a lot goes wrong in this respect. In a recent Mars Report, a...Read more
Steering failure ends with ship hitting pier
When a ship’s steering fails in restricted waters, time is of the essence. A recent Mars Report describes a ship that hit a pier after it lost control of its rudders. Moreover, the crew was...Read more
Uncontrolled load swing injures crew member
A lifting hoist should be placed at right angles when removing any heavy load. If this is impossible a slewing hoist must be kept taut. In a recent Mars Report, a crew member was injured...Read more
Investigation into container vessel OOCL Rauma losing containers
The Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate will investigate why seven containers fell overboard last week from container vessel OOCL Rauma as it was sailing past the Dutch Wadden Islands. This was announced by the...Read more
Near miss as pilot rope ladder fails
Pilot ladders need to be safe and thus in good condition. A recent Mars report describes a near miss when one of the ladder’s side ropes failed as a result of mould. The Mars reports are...Read more
Different CO2 system manuals delay firefighting on board car carrier
Because there were two different versions of the activation procedure of the fixed CO2 system, the master of a car carrier was delayed in activating it. The result: major structural damage to the vessel. The incident...Read more
Crew member injured by fast-moving mooring line
A fast-moving, heavy mooring rope presents a clear hazard. A recent Mars Report describes an incident in which a crew member was injured after a mooring line paid out to fast. The Mars Reports are compiled...Read more
Two crew members injured as scaffolding topples at sea
Erecting scaffolding while the vessel is at sea can be dangerous as weather conditions can change rapidly. In a recent Mars Report, substandard practices onboard a general cargo vessel resulted in two injured crew members...Read more
Stairs slip-up injures crew member
Stairs onboard ships can present a danger to crew, especially in wet conditions. In a recent Mars Report, a crew member was injured rushing down the stairs. The Mars Reports are compiled (anonymously) by The Nautical...Read more