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Accidents

Flying Phantom (2007)

At about 18:00 on 19 December 2007, Flying Phantom was acting as the bow tug for the bulk carrier Red Jasmine on the River Clyde. When the vessels entered dense fog, the tug crew lost visual reference with the assisted vessel. The pilot instructed the tug to pull Red Jasmine's bow to starboard for a turn.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Capsize girding
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameFlying Phantom
Vessel TypeTug
Flag StateUnited Kingdom [GB]
IMO Number8011770
Official Number389446
Call SignGCFR
Gross Tonnage287
LOA (m)38.95
Breadth (m)9.68
TEU
Year Built1981
Crew Size4

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2007-12-19
LocationRiver Clyde, Scotland
Coordinates55.893333, -4.416667
RegionUnited Kingdom
Fatalities3
Injuries1
Missing0
Vessels Lost1
Direct Damage
Economic Damage
OutcomeFlying Phantom was lost through girting in thick fog; three crew members died and the mate survived.

Key facts

  • Flying Phantom was the bow tug for Red Jasmine during a River Clyde transit in thick fog on 19 December 2007.
  • Red Jasmine overtook the tug so that the towline led across Flying Phantom's port side, creating girting conditions.
  • The emergency release operated after activation but not quickly enough to prevent the capsize; an open port engine-room watertight door accelerated downflooding.
  • Three of the tug's four crew died. The mate escaped and was rescued.

Narrative

At about 18:00 on 19 December 2007, Flying Phantom was acting as the bow tug for the bulk carrier Red Jasmine on the River Clyde. When the vessels entered dense fog, the tug crew lost visual reference with the assisted vessel. The pilot instructed the tug to pull Red Jasmine's bow to starboard for a turn.

Red Jasmine overtook Flying Phantom, causing the towline to lead across the tug's port side. The lateral load girted the tug and it heeled sharply to port. The mate activated the emergency release, but the tow winch brake did not release quickly enough under load. An open port engine-room watertight door allowed rapid downflooding as the tug heeled, and Flying Phantom capsized and sank. The mate escaped through the wheelhouse door and was rescued from a navigation mark; the other three crew members were lost. Red Jasmine completed the transit.

The MAIB concluded that Flying Phantom was lost through girting alone and had not grounded before the capsize. It identified ineffective restricted-visibility routines, shortcomings in the emergency-release system and open watertight-door precautions, and weaknesses in Clydeport's safety management and risk assessment.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2007-12-19 18:00Flying Phantom was assisting Red Jasmine on the River Clyde when the vessels entered dense fog.
2007-12-19 shortly after 18:00Red Jasmine overtook Flying Phantom and the towline led across the tug's port side.
2007-12-19 shortly after 18:00The tug girted, heeled, downflooded through an open watertight door and capsized.
2007-12-19 after the capsizeThe mate escaped and was rescued; three other crew members were lost.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Girting loadConfirmed findingRed Jasmine overtook the tug and the towline pulled laterally across Flying Phantom's port side.
Delayed emergency releaseConfirmed findingThe release operated after activation but not quickly enough to prevent the capsize.
Open watertight doorConfirmed findingDownflooding through the open port engine-room door reduced residual stability.
Restricted-visibility proceduresConfirmed findingThe MAIB found that operational limits and routines for towing in fog were inadequate.
Clydeport safety managementConfirmed findingThe report identified weaknesses in port risk assessment and safety management.

Investigation

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch published its report in September 2008. It concluded that Flying Phantom was lost through girting alone and made findings concerning the towline release, downflooding, restricted-visibility procedures, tug preparedness and Clydeport's safety management.

References

Video

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