This report, based on findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), summarizes a marine collision involving a cargo vessel that lost steering control while departing a U.S. port and subsequently struck a moored bulk carrier.
What Happened
On August 25, 2023, a multi-purpose cargo vessel departed a terminal on the Houston Ship Channel. Shortly after getting underway, the vessel lost primary steering control. Despite crew attempts to recover steering, the rudder shifted unexpectedly to port. Emergency override was engaged, but the vessel did not respond in time to avoid contact. At 1012 local time, the vessel collided with a bulk carrier that was moored and loading cargo at a nearby terminal. There were no injuries, no pollution was reported, and combined damage to both vessels was estimated at $1.175 million.
Why It Happened
The incident occurred due to failure within the steering control system. Investigations indicated that a defective bridge wing tiller micro switch, compounded by moisture ingress through cracked protective rubber, likely caused the rudder to move hard to port and remain unresponsive. Additional safety factors included delayed crew response in shifting to emergency steering procedures, an inoperative simplified voyage data recorder which prevented recovery of event data, and limited reaction time in confined waters which increased collision risk.
Actions Taken
Following the incident, the vessel’s operator replaced steering tillers, push buttons, termination cards, and the power supply transformer with original manufacturer parts on the affected vessel and two sister vessels. Refresher training was conducted for bridge and engine teams on control transfer and emergency steering procedures. In addition, the equipment manufacturer issued a Safety Bulletin warning of failures in steering tillers manufactured between 2002 and 2009.
Lessons Learned
- Regular inspection of steering control units and protective components is critical, particularly for older systems.
- Emergency steering and control transfer scenarios must be practiced frequently to ensure rapid crew response under pressure.
- Bridge teams should be trained to recognize control failures early and shift promptly to emergency override.
- Vessels operating in channels or near moored ships must prepare for rapid responses to steering failures.
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Source: NTSB
