Topic 2 Actions on Collision and Grounding

LO2.2: Demonstrate initial actions to be taken following the collision, grounding

Actions following Grounding or Stranding:

 Call the Master – Call Engine room - Stop engines.
 Sound General Alarm, Muster and account for all hands.
 Assist by all Deck Officer ( Chief Officer, 2nd Officer, 3rd Officer)
 Shut all watertight doors.
 Consider the use of anchor.
 Switch to high cooling water intakes.
 Display signal required by the collision to preserve life, the safety of own and other vessels and
the environment.
 Determine and record the ship’s position and which way the deep water lies, nature of seabed
and obtain information on currents and tides.
 Ascertain the extent of damage to own vessel, including the status of machinery.
 Sound all ship tanks and spaces, record results.
 If oil pollution evident consider changing ER intakes to low sea suction.
 Broadcast an URGENCY message to all ships in the vicinity and local coastguard or broadcast
a DISTRESS ALERT if the ship is in a grave and imminent danger.
 Inform Coast/Flag State Authorities and Company’s DPA/Emergency Response team. Request
assistance if necessary.
 Consider taking on additional ballast to prevent unwanted movement. Preserve VDR or S-VDR
records.
 Maintain a comprehensive log of events and conclusion of the incident
 Obtain information on local currents & tides, particularly details of the rise and fall of tide
Consider reducing the draught of the ship
 Consider taking on additional ballast to prevent unwanted movement.
 Make ship’s position available to radio room/GMDSS station, satellite terminal and other
automatic distress transmitters and update as necessary.
 Inform Coastal State Authorities if appropriate
 Preserve VDR or S-VDR records if not automatically protected
 Broadcast DISTRESS ALERT and MESSAGE if the ship is in a grave and imminent danger and
immediate assistance is required, otherwise broadcast an URGENCY message to ships in the
vicinity

Actions to be Taken by the Master and Parties Involved in Case of

Collision of Ships

DUTIES OF MASTER FOR ASSISTING IN CASE OF COLLISION

In every case of collision between two ships, the master is to duly comply as far as possible
with following, without endangering his own ship, crew and passengers:
 1. He should assist the master, crew and passengers of the other ship in every possible
way to save them from any danger caused by the collision. Before leaving the site they
also have to ascertain that the other ship needs no further assistance
2. He has to provide the master or person in charge of the other ship with the name of his
own ship, her port of registry, last port of call and next port of call
3. In every case of collision if practicable the master of the ship concerned shall make a full
statement detailing the location, circumstances and causes of the incident into the
official log book. The entry should be signed by the Master and also by mate or any of
the crew members
4. The owners or the Master shall immediately transmit a report to the Central
Government or the nearest principal officer in following cases

 If ship has sustained any damage due to collision. E.g. If transverse bulkheads or
shipside frames are damaged due to collision
 If above cause has resulted in loss of life or severe personal injury. E.g. If any
crew member has died or needs to be hospitalized urgently.
 If the material damages caused have affected the vessel’s seaworthiness .E.g. if
water has flooded compartments thereby causing vessel to list heavily.
 If any machinery cannot work up to specified parameters in certificates issued
under MS ACT. E.g. Seawater or fire fighting pump has been damaged and cannot be
used up to their rated capacity.

The above said report should contain name of the ship, her official number, Port of registry, her
present location and details of the incident.

A written notice should be sent to the Central Government stating details of the vessel, her
official number and port of registry as soon as possible by the ship owner or agent of any
Indian ship when a ship has disappeared or in any other circumstance when they suspect the
vessel to be totally lost.

These rules are appropriate to demarcate the parties involved with respect to contributions
towards loss of both life and property, personal damages, however for environmental
protection no specific guidelines have been provided in this section.

They also clearly draw an outline to separate claims pertaining to General Average, Salvage
and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 by implying
their non applicability to the section 352A – Limitation of Liability for damages in respect of
certain claims of the MS ACT and thus making the above procedures exclusive for vessel
registered under Indian sub continent or with Territorial waters of India.

10 Important Things To Do During Ship Collision

Accident
Even with the latest developments in navigational equipment and communication
systems, collision accidents between ships continue to occur around the world. Some of the
main reasons for such accidents are negligence, incompetence and miscommunication.

Ship Collision just do not leave the ships damaged; they can also lead to major pollutions and
claim several innocent lives. Not to forget the ill fated ferry MV Dona PAZ, a Philippine
registered passenger ferry, that collided with MT Vector an oil tanker on 20 th December 1987
and killed 4386 lives including 11 crew members from MT vector.

Considering the vulnerability of such situation mentioned below are important points to
consider when a vessel meets with such unfortunate emergency .

Image Credits: nmri.go.jp

Note: It should be understood that the following points are just for the purpose of guidance,
and during a real situation, one’s knowledge, seamanship and personal competence come in to
play in handling the situation and saving lives.

1. Inform the Master and Engine room: This is obvious, but make sure you inform the
Master, if he is not on bridge. Inform the engine room and stop the engine. The officer on
watch should not hesitate to call the master even if he has the slightest doubt about any given
situation. (The decision to stop the engine would depend on the severity of the accident and
immediate action to be taken.)

Master’s experience, knowledge and his overriding authority helps in making quick and bold
decisions to save lives. Once the master takes over the command of the situation, act on his
orders. Mark the position of collision on chart or by pressing the mob button on GPS for future
reference. Exhibit NOT UNDER COMMAND (NUC) signal if the ship has lost its headway
completely.

2. Immediately Send Distress Signal: Send designated or undesignated distress

messages through VHF ,MF/HF, SAT C or any other available means, depending on the sea
area you are in and time limit you have. If you have enough time inform the company and the
nearest coast radio station about the incident.

3. Record Important Data: Record the time of ship collision, name and IMO number of the
vessel(s) you collided with. Waste no time in arguing with other vessel. Leave VHF channel 16
unoccupied, through which, you can get necessary information regarding assistance and help if
the situation demands. Use any other VHF channel for inter/intra ship communication. If
possible, take a photograph of the collision from a secure location.

4. Sound the Alarms: Sound the general emergency alarm; general alarm signal is sounded as
precaution. It should not be mistaken as a signal for abandoning the ship. Take attendance, if
anybody is missing report the same to the master. Inform the officer responsible on muster
station about the situation. Make arrangements, to search and find the missing person. The
responsible officers and crew should lower the life boats up to embarkation deck and make all
arrangements to abandon the vessel at quick notice. It should be noted that engine room
should not be left unattended if the impact of collision is minimal, which do not need an
immediate evacuation of the compartment. Also, the engine room in-charge should ensure all
officers and crew working in the engine room are ready with their life jackets and TPA
if immediate evacuation is required in the later stages.

5. Assess the Damage: Send an officer responsible to the area where the vessels have taken
the impact. Inquire about the percentage of damage occurred. If the damaged area is an
enclosed space, ensure to take all necessary precautions, for enclosed space entry. Make an
assessment of the damage and report the same to master. Any decision should be taken by the
master or if the master is incapable of making decision or carry out his duties, the person next
to his command should do so.

6. Take the Soundings: Send crew to take sounding of all ballast tanks, fresh water tanks, and
wing tanks. Give instruction to engine room to take sounding of all tanks in engine room. All
tanks soundings are to be taken and recorded, because the tanks far away from the impact can
experience damage or crack due the shock created by the collision. Record the sounding of all
tanks and compare it with the previous sounding data. If there is any change in the sounding,
there can be a crack or a hole in the tank. The sounding of the particular tank or tanks should
be monitored carefully and the rate of increase or decrease in water should be calculated.

7. Take Immediate Action In Case of Damage: If any tank or tanks appeared to have suffered
damage and ingress of water is confirmed, make necessary arrangements to pump out the
water. If the pumps are not effective and cannot contain the ingress of water the whole
compartment can be sealed preventing other compartments from being flooded. If a self-
closing water tight door is provided, it should be operated from the bridge itself.
8. Check For Oil Spill: If any of the fuel tanks or oil tank is damaged and if there is imminent
danger of oil spill. The procedures mentioned in SOPEP plan should be followed to contain the
oil spill. Read : How to avoid oil spills on ships?

9. Reach The Nearest Port, If Possible: If the master attempts to correct adverse list or trim,
he should consider the effects of shear force, bending movements, free surface effect when
transferring liquids and blasting and de-blasting on the hull. If the own ship to be afloat
without danger and engines are ready to maneuver, set course for the nearest port for repair.
All the above mentioned duties have to be carried out in a very quick sequence and with
utmost precision as collision can lead to other emergencies simultaneously.

Two Ships After Collision

10. Abandon The Ship Only if Everything Else Fails: If the own vessel appears to be sinking
and leaving no other choice except to abandon the vessel, it should be a verbal order from the
master. It should be always kept in mind that a ship is the best lifeboat. The master and crew
should always try and carry out all necessary means to keep it afloat. But once the decision is
made to abandon the vessel, no time should be wasted. All crew should carry out their duties
effectively and escape from the sinking ship as quickly and as far away as possible.

Even with strict regulations for training and qualification of seafarers, many a time the crew
gets panicked and forgets the duties during such emergency. Though it is easier said than
done, the crew should be trained well on board by regular drills. They should be well informed
about the use of life saving equipment and their operating procedures. If a new person joins
the vessel, he should be well familiarized with vessels, emergency procedures, escape routes,
location of life saving equipment etc. before the vessel leaves the port. Any emergency
requires quick and prompt response from the crew and this can be only achieved by regular
training and practice of such emergencies as mock drills.

The above mentioned is not an exhaustive list but a general overview of things that need to be
done in case of collision accident. The points must be taken only as reference and one must
always be guided by practices of good seamanship.

References:
https://imunotes.in/actions-following-grounding-or-stranding-2/
https://www.marineinsight.com/maritime-law/actions-to-be-taken-by-the-master-and-parties-involved-
in-case-of-collision-of-ships-in-indian-waters/#:~:text=In%20every%20case%20of%20collision,danger
%20caused%20by%20the%20collision.
https://www.marineinsight.com/guidelines/ship-collision-accident/