In Port Manoeuvring

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Marine Safety Forum – Safety Flash 13-41
Issued: 14th
October 2013
Subject: In Port Manoeuvring
Incident 1
A vessel was manoeuvring in port with two (of four) generators providing electrical power.
One generator shut down and the vessel lost power to a bow thruster, and one main propulsion
azimuth. The Master was unable to adequately control the ship with the remaining propulsion units
and collided with another vessel.
Considerable damage was caused to the other vessel, which fortunately was unmanned and there
were no injuries
Incident 2
A vessel was departing from port with one (of two) generator providing electrical power.
The generator failed which caused the controllable pitch propeller to default to full astern. By the
time the Master had shut down the main engine, the vessel had gathered sternway, and
subsequently collided with the harbour wall. Damage to the vessel’s rudder required dry-docking.
Fortunately again, there were no injuries.
In both cases an adequate risk assessment had not been carried out as to the consequences of a
loss of generating capacity.
Both vessel owners have recommended that additional generating capacity be provided when
manoeuvring within the close confines of a port.
It is recommended that for offshore support vessels the configuration of engines and generators
which a ship uses when within the 500m zone should be used when manoeuvring in port.