Girting and capsize of tug Domingue while assisting container ship CMA CGM Simba with loss of 2 lives
Location: Tulear, Madagascar.
Accident Investigation Report 16/2017
Investigation report into marine accident including what happened and safety lessons learned:
Summary
The tug Domingue girted and capsized while assisting the container ship CMA CGM Simba departing from the port of Tulear, Madagascar. As a result of the accident two of Domingue鈥檚 five crew died.
Domingue had been connected to CMA CGM Simba鈥檚 port quarter to help pull the vessel鈥檚 stern off the berth. During the manoeuvre, the prevailing tidal conditions caused CMA CGM Simba to move towards a mooring dolphin. To avoid striking the dolphin, CMA CGM Simba鈥檚 master briefly manoeuvred his vessel ahead, the pilot did not warn the tug that they would be coming ahead. As CMA CGM Simba built up ahead speed Domingue girted and capsized.
Safety Issues
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Domingue was less manoeuvrable than the port鈥檚 normal tug which was undergoing maintenance, and its crew were inexperienced in assisting ships
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The tug was not fitted with a gog rope, nor did the towing point have any mechanism to release the tow in an emergency and doors and hatches on the tug were open
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The extent to which a plan for CMA CGM Simba鈥檚 departure had been discussed between the pilot and Domingue鈥檚 skipper before commencement is uncertain, and during the manoeuvre no-one on board CMA CGM Simba monitored the tug鈥檚 position
Recommendations
In view of current published guidance and the actions since taken by Midocean (IOM) Ltd, no recommendations have been made.
Related publications
The scope of the MAIB investigation has focused on aspects concerning the involvement of CMA CGM Simba with only observations relating to the tug Domingue owing to limited access to evidence. The Madagascar maritime authority, Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), has confrmed it is conducting a safety investigation into the causes and circumstances of the accident in accordance with the International Maritime Organization鈥檚 Casualty Investigation Code, but has not advised when its report will be published.