Releases Final Report of Cargo Vessel Sheng Li of Jamin Marine Transport Co., Ltd. Occurrence Investigation
The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) releases the Final Report on the investigation of Cargo Vessel Sheng Li of Jamin Marine Transport Co., Ltd. Occurrence Investigation.
On August 1st , 2019, at 1205 hour, the cargo vessel Sheng Li owned by Jamin Marine Transport Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Jamin), with a Captain and 6 crewmembers on board, left Longmen Jianshan Port, Penghu County, destined for Budai Port, Chiayi County. The Sheng Li was loaded with general cargos, scrap iron, and more than ten empty containers. The Sheng Li came into Budai Port at the lowest tide of the day at 1510. Due to the insufficient under keel clearance, the Sheng Li was stranded and abandoned.
According to the Republic of China (ROC) Transportation Occurrence Investigation Act and the relevant content of the Casualty Investigation Code of the International Maritime Organization, the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB), an independent transportation occurrence investigation agency, is responsible for conducting the investigation. The investigation team also included members from Maritime and Port Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, South Maritime Affairs Center, Budai District Office, Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd. and Jamin Marine Transport Co., Ltd.
Findings Related to Probable Causes:
- At the time of the occurrence, the Budai Management Office has just completed the establishment of the port monitoring system, but the office has neither established a ship control mechanism and policies, and nor control the Sheng Li into the port during the period of the lowest tide at the maximum high tide of the year, As a result the Sheng Li was stranded due to insufficient under keel clearance.
Findings Related to Risk:
- Because of the drastic changes in water depth after dredging, the information about channel water depth released by the Budai Management Office was not accurate enough as a reference for sailing ships.
- Jamin did not comply with Article 4 of the “Regulations Governing Safe Operation and Pollution Prevention of Vessels”. Under the provisions, when performing safety management tasks the safety management agencies shall work towards the following goals:
(1) Provide a safe operating system and a safe working environment for ship operations.
(2) Assess the hazards to ship navigation and life safety, prevent ship pollution, and adopt appropriate preventive measures.
(3) Improve the safety management skills of safety management agencies and ship personnel, including preparations for ship navigation, safety of life, and prevention of ship pollution emergencies.
Transportation Safety Recommendations
To Jamin Marine Transport Co., Ltd.:
- Improve the management of the fleet, and advocate the necessity of taking a conservative attitude and making safety the priority during the period of the lowest tide at the maximum high tide of the year, and then proceed to enter the port after the lowest tide period has passed.
To Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.:
- In the case where the depth of water in the channel cannot be effectively maintained, Article 33 of the Commercial Port Law shall be implemented and effectively enforced. For vessels constrained by her draft or with risk of grounding, vessel entry and exit controls shall be implemented at the lowest tide.
- Adopt effective method for dredging channel, so that the dredging channel project can be effectively carried out continually to avoid similar accidents from happening again.
Full Final Report is in Chinese only and available for download at https://www.ttsb.gov.tw
Sherry Liu, Safety Investigator
Tel: 89127388-6286
Email:sherry@ttsb.gov.tw
Website: https://www.ttsb.gov.tw