Collision between vessel leading to oil pollution in the area

ffi @ TirFtq !ttr8 lmfr tr(6'R / GOVERNMENT OF lNorA G2@ t, qtr{, +d qRqfi s?R qmiT,i {ildq dfr6*,***, MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPINGAND WATERWAYS fi-dfi rarRtertrq, lH ryslqli-.tili &d!s DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI 1/6/2020-NT-DGS F. No.25-1901 DaIe:\7 .11.2023 Casualty Circular - 01 of 2017 Sub.: Collision between vessel leadinq to oil poll}tion in the area

Summary of Incident:

Indian flagged oil tanker arrived at Kamraj ar port on26 lut 2017 for discharging cargo of clean refined petroleum products. On 28 Jan 2017 erly AM hrs, pilot boarded the vessel and it commenced its approach to the port, and at the same time Isle of Man flag LPG Carrier was departing port. The LPG Carrier on its outbound passage, while in the port channel got delayed in tuming to port, which lead vessel to come close to one of the channel buoys, and the bridge team lost situational awareness about presence of another vessel i.e the Indian flag oil tanker, with whom a close quarter situation developed. The oil tanker altered course to clear the LPG Carrier, however bow ofLPG Carrier collided with the oil tanker at the break of accommodation, breaching the Fuel oil Tank (Port), Slop Tank (Port) and water Ballast tank #4 (Port). The I-PG Carrier went astem and cleared the vessel, however due to leakage of fuel oil from the breached tank, caused oil pollution on the area. Initially it was reported that oil spilled was about 2 MT or less, however it was ascertained by calculations that about 250 MT of oil may have escaped, causing signifi cant environment impact.

The oil spilled had washed ashore contaminating the coastline and the beaches in the area, and had also contaminated the strucnres within the port. An extensive clean-up operation was carried out involving all stakeholders, involving Indian authorities, volunteers and intemational experts.

Causal Factors:

1. In adequate navigation of LPG Canier, led to close quarter situation between the vessels, which resulted in collision.

2. Loss of situational awareness on the LPG Carrier caused the bridge team in taking actions which exacerbated the developing situation, eventually leading to collision.

3. The oil tanker which had a pilot on board could have better monitored the LPG carrier and could have taken action which may have avoided collision.

Action Taken:

1. After collision oil tanker was towed to anchorage. sfi {H.s, drcr R'k-r, erTi Pi6 }+ir Aqs,, aig1".frs trs, 6ig{qri($) 1ffi- aooo+z gth Floor, BETA Building, l-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Village Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai400042 Si{ffel No.: +91-22-2575 2o4ol1l2l3 ftffi/Fu"., +91-22-2575 2o2gl35 {-tfr/Email: dgship-dgs@nic.in {fl-f{z/Website: www.dgshipping.gov.in2. Oil spill boom was rigged around the vessel after it was anchored.

3. After surveying the vessel, and addressing the concems raised by ^'on, oil tanker was benhed for cargo discharging.

4. Oil pollution response carried out as per local laws, and involved authorities, volunteers, and intemational experts.

Lessons Learnt:

1. Convention on the lntemational Regulations for Preventing Collisions al Sea, 1972 should be followed at all times.

2. There should be proper communication between vessels and port control at all times till clear ofport waters, keep vessels in the area and port informed about the vessels status.

3. Port conftol should monitor vessel closely and identiff potentially cl:veloping close quarter situations and take action accordingly.

4. All vessel approaching port should closely monitor all traffic in the area and identify potentially developing close quarter situations and take avoiding action in due time. (Capt. Vikram Singh Manhas) Dy. Nautical Adviser cum Sr. DDG (Tech.) To, All stakeholders through DGS website.