Collision between bulk carrier George Lyras and 5 unlit drifting barges
Location: Tilbury, River Thames, England.
Completed PE summary: George Lyras
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | George Lyras |
| Registered Owner/Manager | Paralos M. Paralos Maritime Corporat |
| Flag | Greece |
| Type | Dry cargo/Bulk carrier |
| Built | 1984 |
| Classification Society | Lloyds Register |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 192m |
| Gross Tonnage | 22322.00 |
| Date and Time | 15/11/2005, 0040 |
| Location of Incident | Tilbury, 51 29.7N 000 28.5E |
| Incident Type | Collision |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | Material damage/Pollution caused |
Synopsis
This bulk carrier collided with five unlit barges at night while outbound on the River Thames. The barges were drifting in the channel after their mooring had parted. A shackle in the mooring system had failed due to twisting which occurred after a swivel piece had been jammed but a wire/rope. The drifting barges were not noticed on the ship’s radar or by VTS.
Action taken:
To prevent a similar accident occurring in the future - the ship owner was advised to:
-
Ensure that an adequate lookout is maintained at all times, including proper monitoring of radars.
-
Ensure that the general alarm is sounded in similar circumstances.
- the port authority was advised to:
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Ensure that customers using its moorings utilise appropriate securing methods.
-
Ensure that VTS screens are adequately monitored at all times.
- the barge operating company was advised to:
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Ensure its employees use appropriate securing methods when tying up moorings.
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Ensure that its safety management system includes lessons learned from this and previous accidents involving moorings.