Classification
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Incident Type | Hydrodynamic Interaction |
| Severity | Medium |
| Investigation Body | PKBWM |
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | Virtus |
| Vessel Names | Virtus; Bomar Victory |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | Poland [PL] |
| IMO Number | 9477048 |
| Gross Tonnage | 334 |
| LOA (m) | 30 |
| Breadth (m) | 10.50 |
| Other Involved Vessels | Bomar Victory, container ship |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 2015-06-24 |
| Region | Baltic Sea |
| Location | Bay of Gdansk, roadstead and approach to Port of Gdansk / DCT |
| Coordinates | 54°24.5'N, 018°46.2'E |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
Key facts
- Bomar Victory was approaching DCT / Port of Gdansk with a pilot on the bridge while Virtus came out to assist with berthing.
- At about 08:56 local time, Virtus's stern contacted Bomar Victory's starboard side.
- Bomar Victory sustained a dent about 200 x 50 x 5 cm; Virtus sustained paint damage on the stern bulwark edge.
- Bomar Victory was reported to be travelling above 10 knots while approaching, and Virtus approached at about 4 to 5 knots.
- PKBWM did not treat hydrodynamic interaction as the sole established cause.
Narrative
On 24 June 2015, the container ship Bomar Victory was approaching DCT / Port of Gdansk with a port pilot on the bridge. The tug Virtus left the port to assist with the berthing manoeuvre. At about 08:50, the vessels were near buoy P5. Bomar Victory was travelling at more than 10 knots, while Virtus stopped about 200 metres ahead and to the ship's starboard side before beginning an approach astern at about 4 to 5 knots to pass a tow line. At about 08:56 local time, Virtus's stern contacted Bomar Victory's starboard side near the beginning of the stern rounding. The ship's shell was dented over an area of about 200 by 50 by 5 centimetres. Virtus sustained paint damage along the edge of its stern bulwark. The tow was passed and Bomar Victory continued into port, berthing at about 09:30. The report states that neither vessel suffered damage requiring immediate repair or removal from service. PKBWM's reviewed material identifies excessive speed by Bomar Victory and inadequate communication between the ship's pilot and the tug master as safety factors. It also states that hydrodynamic effects could have contributed, but does not treat them as the sole established cause. The report does not provide normalized fatalities, injuries, missing persons, or financial-loss values.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|
| 2015-06-24, about 08:00 | Bomar Victory approached the DCT waterway with a pilot; Virtus departed the port to assist with berthing. |
| 2015-06-24, about 08:50 | The vessels were near buoy P5; Virtus began its approach to pass a tow line. |
| 2015-06-24, about 08:56 | Virtus's stern contacted Bomar Victory's starboard side. |
| 2015-06-24, about 09:30 | Bomar Victory berthed at DCT after the tow was passed. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Excessive speed of Bomar Victory | Confirmed finding | PKBWM's preliminary analysis identified the ship's speed as a cause-related factor; it was reported above the 7-knot roadstead limit. |
| Inadequate pilot-tug communication | Confirmed finding | The report identified insufficient communication between Bomar Victory's pilot and Virtus's master. |
| Hydrodynamic effects | Suspected | PKBWM stated that hydrodynamic effects could have contributed, but did not identify hydrodynamic interaction as the sole established cause. |
Investigation
The Polish State Commission on Maritime Accident Investigation (PKBWM) reviewed the casualty under case WIM 22/15. The official material records the collision, position, vessel identities and physical damage. It identifies excessive ship speed and weak pilot-tug communication as factors and leaves the role of hydrodynamic effects qualified rather than definitive. The reviewed report material does not establish normalized casualty counts or a monetary loss estimate.
References
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