January case 2019:  Excessive speed when approaching berth

It was morning with clear skies and NW winds at 25-30 knots. The 200 m RoRo vessel had picked up the pilot and there had been a short pilot briefing where the pilot informed the bridge that the vessel would berth starboard side to berth A which had a course of 285°.

The approach in the fairway was 090°. This meant that the vessel had to do a major port alteration of 195°. The port had no breakwater and was open to the sea.

The pilot had the conn and the vessel was sailing down the fairway on a 090° course at a speed of 9 knots. 

Two tugs were standing by but were not connected. At the position where the pilot decided to start the alteration there was less than 500 m of space between the berths in the port basin.  Read more in the latest Monthly Safety Scenario case»

For more Loss Prevention information, please contact: 
Joakim Enström, Loss Prevention Officer
E-mail: joakim.enstrom@swedishclub.com

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Each month the Club’s Loss Prevention team issues a new safety scenario to assist members in their efforts to comply with international safety regulations and to follow best practice. 

When discussing the case please consider that the actions taken at the time made sense for all involved. Do not only judge, but also ask why you think these actions were taken and could this happen on your vessel?