**Executive Summary**
This Casualty Circular (01 of 2019), dated 26.12.2023, from the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, reports on a fire and explosion on a tug that resulted in the loss of four lives. The incident occurred on 11.08.2019 at Vishakhapatnam SPM during a crude oil discharge operation. The report details the circumstances leading to the incident, identifies causal factors, actions taken, and outlines lessons learned to prevent future occurrences.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Incident Summary:**
* A VLCC was discharging crude oil when squalls caused SPM mooring hawsers to part.
* Cargo transfer hoses broke from the marine breakaway coupling (MBC). One MBC malfunctioned, causing oil seepage.
* The tug, undergoing repairs, was directed to address the oil leak despite its condition.
* Crude oil spilled on deck, seeped into the engine room, and ignited, resulting in a fire and explosion.
* Personnel jumped into the water, and four lives were lost.
* **Causal Factors:**
* The replacement tug lacked the required capabilities for O&M services at the SPM.
* The O&M service contractor failed to provide adequate services.
* Authorities failed to take adequate action for the oil spill.
* The O&M service provider used a tug that was not seaworthy.
* The Port and Oil Company did not provide adequate supervision.
* **Action Taken:**
* The leaking MBC was removed, and the hose end was blanked.
* Oil on the tug's deck was transferred to a gurgon tank.
* Personnel in the water were rescued.
* The injured were transferred to the hospital.
* **Lessons Learnt:**
* All vessels must be fit for purpose and seaworthy.
* Replacement vessels must have matching capabilities and capacity.
* The Port and Oil Company should ensure adequate supervision of actions in the port.
* Adequate actions should be taken to counter expected or unexpected weather conditions.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: O&M Service Contractor**
* **Impact:** Failure to adequately provide contracted services and using a tug that was not seaworthy.
* **Action Required:** Review internal procedures to ensure that replacement vessels meet required capabilities, are seaworthy, and properly managed, or face penalties.
**Stakeholder: Port and Oil Company**
* **Impact:** Failure to provide adequate supervision of O&M services and actions taken in the port.
* **Action Required:** Improve oversight of O&M contractor activities, particularly ensuring the seaworthiness of vessels and appropriate response to oil spills and adverse weather conditions.
**Stakeholder: Port and other Authorities**
* **Impact:** Failed to take adequate actions on the oil spills.
* **Action Required:** Improve oversight of O&M contractor activities, particularly ensuring the seaworthiness of vessels and appropriate response to oil spills and adverse weather conditions.
**Stakeholder: All Stakeholders (through DGS website)**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness of maritime safety requirements and procedures.
* **Action Required:** Review and implement the lessons learned to improve safety protocols and prevent similar incidents. Ensure all vessels are seaworthy and fit for purpose, and maintain adequate supervision of operations.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: Issuing authority of the circular and the primary maritime regulatory body.
Vishakhapatnam SPM: Single Point Mooring facility at Vishakhapatnam, India, where the incident occurred; central to the policy's applicability.
Marine Breakaway Coupling (MBC): Component that failed, leading to the oil spill and subsequent incident.
O&M service provider: The contracted company responsible for operations and maintenance at the SPM, whose actions are criticized in the circular.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
F. No.25-1901 1/6/202o-NT-DGS
Date:26.12.2023
CasuaItv Circular - 0I of2019
Sub: Fire and exnloslon on tug resultins in loss of four Iives
Summary of Incident:
while a VLCC was discharging cargo of crude oil at vishakhapatnam spM, on
11.08.2019 PM hrs, area suddenly started experience squalls with winds upto 43 kts, which
resulted in excessive shain on the two SPM mooring hawsers. The weather conditions eventually
led to parting of sPM mooring hawsers and drifting of tanker with cargo hoses connected,
thereby resulting in breaking of the two cargo transfer hoses from the .ma.ine breakaway
coupling' (MBC). While one of the MBC operated correctly, other one did not and was allowing
some oil to seep out causing oil pollution. This oil seepage could not be arrested by the terminal
contracted operation and maintenance (O&M) service provider.
The tug which was providing o&M services at the spM was in dock at vishakhapatnam
since 27.06.2019, and was undergoing repairs and renewal surveys. The replacement tug
ananged by the SPM o&M service provider was unable to handle the leaking SpM cargo hose,
therefore the service contractor decided to pull out the tug in dry dock for picking up the leaking
cargo hose, removing the MBC and blanking the hose to arrest the oil leakage. The master ofthe
tug which was in dry dock, informed owner (who was also the contracted O&M service provider
at the SPM) about the condition of the tug, however the tug was askeu tci' come to SpM
immediately for undertaking this emergency job. The tug departed repair berth on 12.0g.2023 at
09:00 hn and arrived at SPM by 09:40 hrs.
Divers and riggers boarded the tug, while the tug picked up the SpM cargo hose on deck
for removing the MBC and blanking the hose. while the hose end was on deck, the leaking crude
oil begun to spill on deck and seep into engine room through various openings on deck where
work was in progtess during vessels drydocking. Further, as soon as the MBC was opened, lot of
oil spilled on the deck, which caused now crude oil to drip on top of running machineries in the
engine room, such as generators etc. While second engineer raised this issue with Master and
was trying to clean up, there was a fire in engine room followed explosion, which was
exacerbated crude oil spilled on deck. The personnel working on deck jumpeh in water and were
rescued by other boats nearby. The incident resulted in loss offour lives.
Causal Factors:
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The tug deployed at SPM for o&M services was capable of firefighting and oil spill
response services, however its replacement tug for the period while it was in dock, did
not have the required capabilities for O&M services at the SpM
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3. Port and other Authorities could not take adequate action for oil being spilled from the
leaking MBC, and in-tum asked the contractor to take action for the oil spillage.
4. O&M service provider used the tug which was not in seaworthy condition as it was
undergoing repairs and renewal surveys, which resulted in the incident. The company
showed complete disregard to the applicable Statutory provisions.
5. Port and the Oil Company did not have adequate supervision over the actions being taken
by the SPM O&M service contractor.
Action Taken:
1. It was decided to remove the leaking MBC and blank the hose end to stop leakage.
2. The oil leaking on tug's deck was being transferred to empty gurgon tank on board the
tug.
3. All personnel who had jumped in water were picked up by other boats nearby.
4. All injured were transferred to hospital for treatment.
Lessons Learnt:
1. All vessel to be used are to be fit for purpose and seaworthy.
2. All replacement vessel for the interim period should be of matching ,:apabilities and
capacity.
3. Port and Oil Company should keep adequate supervision of the actions being taken in or
around the port, to ensure safety ofvessel and persormel on board.
4. For operations at SPM, port and oil company should ensure that adequate actions are
taken well in time to counter expected or unexpected weather conditions, which included
providing extra tug, casting offvessel etc.
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(Capt. Vikram Singh Manhas)
Dy. Nautical Adviser cum Sr. DDG (Tech.)
To,
All stakeholders through DGS website.