Summary
On 21 July 2015, Saluzi passenger ship was embarking a pilot in moderate to rough seas. Before the pilot had stepped on the pilot ladder, the pilot boat dropped into the trough of the sea and beneath the ship’s round hull. As the boat came up, the pilot and the deckhand was caught between the pilot boat and the ship’s hull. Being seriously injured, both collapsed on the deck of the pilot boat. The pilot was able to hold on board, but the deckhand fell into the rough sea. By the time the search and rescue operations by Saluzi were called off at 17:21, the deckhand remained missing.
The Marine Safety Investigation Unit established that on account of the hull design, the pilot boarding arrangement provided by Saluzi was not compliant with the relevant SOLAS requirements.
Pilot ladder on Saluzi
Actions Taken
- A specific risk assessment was carried out for pilot transfer arrangement;
- In view of inherent hazards in the use of the pilot ladder, due to the specific shape of the hull, a permanent standing order has been issued by the master requiring that pilots only embark by the accommodation ladder. New arrival and departure checklists have been prepared;
- New instructions on saving of voyage data have been issued and posted in close proximity of the VDR.
Intermittent search track by Saluzi
Conclusions
- The pilot embarkation areas and the pilot ladder on board Saluzi were not in accordance with the requirements of SOLAS.
- The SMS provided no procedures regarding the pilot embarkation.
- Risk assessments for pilot embarkation were neither carried out by the managers nor the master.
- The deck hand and the pilot were standing on the inboard side of the pilot boat, exposing themselves to the hazards of the approaching vessel.
- The deck hand had no safety harness to prevent him from falling overboard.
- No lifebuoy and/or the pilot boat was released by Saluzi.
- The pilot boat neither informed Saluzi of the man overboard nor communicated the accident over the VHF radio.
- There was a significant delay before the port authorities called Saluzi to conduct search and rescue operations and broadcast the man overboard alert to all ships in the area.
Recommendations
V Ships Leisure SAM is recommended to:
- ensure that crew members are thoroughly familiar with man overboard drills.
Haiphong Port Authority is recommended to:
- fit DSC distress alert on board its pilot boats;
- provide appropriate safety harnesses for use by deck hands;
- ensure that pilot boat crew appreciates the importance of using the outboard route to access the pilot ladder;
- promulgate procedures and actions to initiate prompt search and rescue operations.
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Source: Transport Malta
