Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize girding
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Diver Master |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Denmark [DK] |
| IMO Number | |
| Call Sign | OVJZ |
| Gross Tonnage | 33.90 |
| LOA (m) | 17.17 |
| Breadth (m) | 4.33 |
| Bollard Pull (t) | 7 |
| Power (kW) | 336 |
| Owner/Operator | BB Towing & Diving |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | 1919 |
| Crew Size | 2 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2014-08-04 |
| Location | Esbjerg Harbour |
| Coordinates | 55.471667, 8.420000 |
| Region | North Sea |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 0 |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
| Outcome | Diver Master capsized and foundered after being dragged by its own towline and colliding with Kruzenshtern; all persons were recovered. |
Key facts
- Diver Master was the forward tug assisting the sail training ship Kruzenshtern during departure from Esbjerg.
- The tug lost control after its towline came under the hull and around the rudder and propeller.
- Diver Master was dragged sideways by the towline, struck Kruzenshtern, capsized and foundered after rapid flooding.
- All persons from Diver Master were recovered and taken ashore; the tug was later salvaged but not returned to service.
Narrative
On 4 August 2014, the Danish workboat and tug Diver Master assisted the Russian sail training ship Kruzenshtern during departure from Esbjerg. Diver Master acted as the forward tug while Kruzenshtern prepared to turn into Grådyb Channel. The tug's towline came under the hull and around its rudder and propeller, leaving the master unable to control the tug's heading.
The pilot ordered Diver Master into a one-o'clock position for the turn. As the tug continued ahead and was overtaken by its own tow, the towline dragged it sideways. Diver Master swung into and struck the side of Kruzenshtern, then heeled and capsized. The tug flooded rapidly and foundered outside the port entrance, obstructing the entrance until salvage operations removed it. All persons aboard were recovered and taken ashore.
DMAIB identified Diver Master as a Danish tug owned by BB Towing & Diving, built in 1919, with call sign OVJZ, gross tonnage 33.90, length overall 17.17 m, breadth 4.33 m, bollard pull 7 t, power 336 kW, and normal manning of two. The report does not provide an IMO number or a normalized non-fatal injury count.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2014-08-04 before the casualty | Diver Master and other tugs assisted Kruzenshtern's departure from Esbjerg. |
| 2014-08-04 | Diver Master's towline came under the tug and around its rudder and propeller, causing loss of steering control. |
| 2014-08-04 | The tug was dragged sideways, struck Kruzenshtern, capsized and flooded. |
| 2014-08-04 17:52 | Diver Master foundered outside the port entrance. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Towline around rudder and propeller | Confirmed finding | The towline came under Diver Master and around the rudder and propeller, leaving the tug unable to steer. |
| Girding force | Confirmed finding | The tug was dragged sideways by the towline and capsized after the line assumed an athwartship direction. |
| Towline release | Confirmed finding | The attempt to release the towline failed during the casualty sequence. |
| Substitute tug selection | Confirmed finding | DMAIB examined the decision to use the smaller Diver Master as a substitute for the planned tug. |
Investigation
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board published its report on 5 January 2015. It concluded that Diver Master capsized, flooded and foundered after being dragged by its towline. The report also examined the towing arrangement, the failed release attempt and the decision to use Diver Master as a substitute tug. A normalized injury count and monetary damage estimate were not stated.
References
Related
- Diver Master
- North Sea
- Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB)
- Girding
- Capsize Girding
- Tug Incident Classification
- Kruzenshtern