200917 Flooding and listing due to water ingress

Flooding and listing due to water ingress
MARS Report 200917

Official report Source: IMO FSI Committee Report 11th Session
A fully-laden bulk carrier lost steerage in heavy seas due to flooding of the steering gear compartment by sea water. The ship drifted for more than seven hours while attempts were made to control the flooding and restore steering. While not making way, the vessel rolled heavily in starboard beam-on seas and green water was taken over the main deck and hatch covers. As a result of the seas and rolling, the fuel oil service tanks took in sea water and the vessel assumed a port list due to shifting cargo.

Root cause/contributory factors
The tightening devices for the hatch cover to the aft rope locker had not been properly maintained and sea water flooded the aft rope locker.
The bulkhead separating the rope locker from the steering gear compartment was not watertight and progressive flooding of the steering gear flat occurred.
Steering was lost when the steering gear motors became submerged in sea water.
The fuel oil service tanks took in sea water due to poorly maintained tank vents.

Lessons learned
The condition of the aft rope locker hatch securing devices and fuel oil tank breathers should have been checked during a recently conducted load line survey.
The installation of bilge water alarms may have given an early warning that water was accumulating in the steering gear compartment.
Shipboard personnel should not rely solely upon these surveys to ensure adequate watertight and weathertight integrity of the vessel.