Grounding of ro-ro passenger ferry Dublin Viking
Location: Crosby Channel, Liverpool, England.
Completed PE Summary: Dublin Viking
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Dublin Viking |
| Registered Owner/Manager | Meridian Marine Management |
| Port of Registry | Belfast |
| Flag | UK |
| Type | Ro-ro vehicle/passenger ferry |
| Built | 1997 |
| Classification Society | Norske Veritas |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 186m |
| Gross Tonnage | 21856 |
| Date/Time | 18/12/2005, 2305 |
| Location of Incident | 53°31.7N 003°06.9W |
| Incident Type | Grounding |
| Persons Onboard | 64 passengers, 46 crew |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | Minor damage to vessel |
Synopsis
The ro-ro ferry Dublin Viking with 110 people on board grounded in the Crosby Channel, Liverpool in good visibility. The vessel left the buoyed channel after the helmsmen applied starboard helm instead of port helm as ordered by the master. The vessel re-floated on a rising tide without assistance about 25 minutes after grounding. There were no injuries, and only superficial damage.
Action taken
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the ship manager of Dublin Viking generally supporting the actions it has taken or proposed following its internal investigation, and also recommending that the company:
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Ensure that collision and grounding drills are conducted at regular intervals.
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Review on board documentation containing advice to masters of its passenger ships, to ensure that an underwater inspection is conducted as soon as possible after a vessel has been re-floated after grounding, even when damage is not apparent.
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Instruct ships fitted with ECDIS and other ECS to record the vessel’s track history, where such a facility is available.