WATCHOUT - Successful search and rescue recovers containership and crew

In this series, we take a look at maritime accident reports and the lessons that can be learned from them

What happened?

A containership was underway in high winds and rough seas about 200NM from the coast, carrying around 4,300 containers. The ship cracked amidships, and rapidly began to take on water before suffering a catastrophic hull failure and breaking in two. The crew of 26 was forced to evacuate on two life rafts.

Three other containerships in the area were tasked by Mumbai Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) to take part in the search and rescue operation. All hands were recovered safely by the containership Yantian Express, thanks to the swift action of the search and rescue vessels, organisations and individuals involved.

In the meantime, the two halves of the vessel had started to drift. Four deep-sea tugs were sent out to assist with salvage. They began towing the bow section, but the stern section sank before salvage operations began. The bow subsequently broke free of the tow, caught fire and sank the next day. While most of the fuel oil remained on board the vessel, fortunately there was no reported major pollution.

Why did it happen?

• The exact cause of the incident remains unknown, however the bad weather and heavy seas are very likely to have contributed significantly to what happened.
• The efficient search and rescue operation resulted in the entire crew being brought back to shore safely.

What happened after the incident?

• The sister ships of the damaged containership were temporarily withdrawn from the shipping route while their hull structures were upgraded.
• Operational changes were also implemented to reduce stress on the vessels’ hulls during bad weather or other pressured conditions.
• The search and rescue operation was highly successful due to the actions of the vessels in the area and their cooperation with the MRCC