Key safety lessons for owners and masters
- Maintain the vessel’s stability as set out in the stability book.
- Identify risks to vessel stability in your safety management system (SMS).
- Keep a record of vessel modifications that may impact stability.
What happened
A trawler with 2 crew was heading ashore to repair generators that were shutting off while at sea.
While in calm waters close to the shore, the vessel capsized and rolled on its side.
The master suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital.
State authorities used containment booms and skimmers to control pollution from the incident.
Why it happened
The vessel rolled over after losing stability. The sea and weather were calm.
The stability book did not consider relevant standards. It had:
- no catch conditions
- fuel tank assumptions that were inconsistent with the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV).
In addition, the master did not maintain the vessel’s stability according to the stability book. For example, they had ignored documented fuel tank management requirements.
Other issues:
- the lightship declaration was inaccurate - the owner failed to report modifications that exceeded 3.4 tonnes
- the risk assessment failed to identify or control risks associated with fuel and ballast management
- the deckhand wasn’t qualified for the duties he was assigned to undertake.
Your responsibilities
Under the National Law, owners of vessels with a stability book must:
- base lightship assessments and declarations on accurate information
- conduct a risk assessment of vessel stability in the vessel’s SMS
- keep a record of modifications affecting vessel stability in the vessel’s SMS.
Make sure you instruct and train masters to operate the vessel according to the stability book.