92003 Grounding/ Communication

Communication problems.

- Report No. 92003.

I was taken to the bridge by an individual who appeared to be the Mate, and after greeting the Captain took over the steering of the vessel. I asked the Captain if the vessel had tiller steering, and was told 'No'. The wheel was very large and required 26 turns hard-over to hard-over. It was not possible to reach the engine controls from the wheel.

Some problems were experienced on the way to the berth, and again when trying to swing, but the main difficulties started when approaching the berth.

A head rope was dispatched from the whaleback and made fast. I was later told that a stern rope messenger was sent ashore, although I had no knowledge of this and could not see from my position at the wheel. Had I known this we could have used the capstan on the after deck to haul her alongside. The stern was being pushed off by the tide, and with only the head rope (as I thought) taking the full strain of the ship, I could see the danger of breaking loose and being carried on to .....(another vessel). I ordered 'Let go' and her stern drifted out into the stream.

I ordered 'slow astern' to clear the other vessel, she then drifted up river beam on. I tried again to swing her, but she would not answer her helm under any circumstances. The Captain confirmed this was normal with this ship. I then ordered the port anchor to be made ready to slip, in an attempt to catch her bow (she was still beam on, drifting up river with the engine stopped).

As soon as there was sufficient room for this manoeuvre, I ordered 'Let go', and at the fourth attempt the anchor went down. She refused to swing head to tide. I tried several times with the same manoeuvre, but ran out of space, and had to order 'slow astern' to avoid the ship being set on to the left bank. When we reached the middle of the pool , I attempted to put her once more head to tide, but she went aground.

I believe that poor communication was a real difficulty; many orders given by me were undertaken after several attempts, if at all. Had I been made aware of the stern rope messenger being ashore at my first pass, I would have ordered the ship be pulled alongside with the capstan. I was made aware by the engineer that there was a tiller steering available which was fully functional. This would have been my preferred steering method.

With a lack of a common language, and suggestions being turned into orders and vice-versa, things were made much more difficult.