A combination of severe weather and operational shortcomings led to injuries and a fatality on board a cargo vessel off the eastern coast of South Africa. Hong Kong Merchant Shipping has shared lessons learned from this tragic incident.
The incident
While the vessel was proceeding southwest off the eastern coast of South Africa, it experienced moderate pitching and heavy seas, with seawater repeatedly sweeping over the forward mooring deck from the port bow.
On the morning of the accident, the bosun store was found flooded, and a crew team was assigned to pump out the water.
Later that evening, after the vessel’s course had been adjusted, several crew members proceeded to the forward mooring deck to cover the gooseneck vents of the bosun store with tarpaulins to prevent further seawater ingress. As the work was nearing completion, the bow was struck by two consecutive large waves. Although the team had been warned to take immediate shelter, only one crew member managed to avoid the impact. The remaining seafarers sustained injuries, and the Ordinary Seaman (O/S) was found unconscious on deck. Following a remote radio medical consultation, he was pronounced dead.
Contributory factors
The investigation determined that, in addition to adverse weather conditions, several operational and procedural deficiencies contributed to the tragedy:
- The master did not take timely action to adjust the vessel’s course or speed to minimize the impact of large waves.
- The crew failed to secure watertight doors and booby hatches as required by the shipboard Safety Management System (SMS).
- The master overlooked precautionary measures prescribed by the SMS, including reducing the vessel’s speed while navigating off the South African coast.
- No risk assessment was conducted for the hazardous work, and neither the master nor the chief officer ensured adequate safety precautions.
- Onboard safety training was ineffective, particularly regarding awareness and response to severe weather conditions.
Lessons learned
To prevent similar incidents, Hong Kong authorities emphasize that ship management companies, masters, officers, and crew should:
- strictly comply with SMS requirements by securing watertight openings and adjusting course or speed when encountering severe weather;
- remain vigilant in high-risk sea areas, such as off the South African coast, and reduce speed to a safe level when required;
- conduct proper risk assessments for hazardous operations and ensure that senior officers supervise crew safety;
- enhance onboard safety training to improve weather awareness and emergency preparedness.
