Ships wedged together after collision
A muted alarm went unnoticed resulting in a ro-ro vessel colliding with an anchored container ship. Neither the officer of the watch nor the bridge personnel on the container ship saw the accident coming. The...Read more
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
‘Ban on Wadden shipping route possible in the event of acute danger’
The Netherlands may incidentally refuse ships access to the southern shipping route above the Wadden Islands. This measure can be taken in the event of acute danger by using its “right to intervene”. That is...Read more
Ferry Vlieland breaches hull and is towed back to Harlingen
The ferry ms Vlieland that was on its way to Vlieland from Harlingen, the Netherlands, on Thursday morning 12 March was damaged shortly after departure. As a result, two engines failed and the ship could...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
Sunken harbour cranes brought to the surface in Rostock Port
The water-side salvage of the mobile harbour cranes that fell from heavy lift vessel Jumbo Vision in Rostock Port on January 31 has been completed. The first of the cranes was recovered on Saturday, the...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
Minister: ‘More clarity on southern Wadden shipping route before summer’
There is to be more clarity about the risks run by large container ships on the Wadden Sea southern shipping route before summer. This is what Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructure and Water Management) has...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
Floating crane Hebo Lift 9 to recover sunken cranes in Rostock Port
The mobile harbour cranes that fell from heavy lift vessel Jumbo Vision in Rostock harbour basin B on 31 January are to be recovered with the Hebo Lift 9. This floating crane is to leave...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