Skip to main content

Accidents

Hebei Spirit (2007)

Hebei Spirit arrived off Daesan on 6 December with a full crude-oil cargo and anchored at a position assigned by Daesan Vessel Traffic Information Service. The crane barge Samsung No. 1 was returning from Inchon to Geoje under stern tow by Samho T-3 and Samsung T-5, with Samsung A-1 assisting at the other end of the barge.

Classification

  • Incident type: Collision
  • Severity: High
  • Human impact: The reviewed investigation and legal sources do not establish a casualty count.
  • Environmental impact: Approximately 10,900 tonnes of crude oil entered the sea.

Vessel Details

VesselTypeRegistryIMO numberGross tonnage / displacementLOARole
Hebei SpiritVLCC / crude-oil tankerHong Kong9034640146,848 GT338.00 mAnchored and awaiting discharge
Samsung No. 1Ocean crane barge, non-propelledGeoje City, Korea11,828 tonnes displacement105.63 mTowed crane barge
Samho T-3TugKorea941316933.8 mPort-side towing tug
Samsung T-5TugKorea914088939.6 mStarboard-side towing tug and convoy lead
Samsung A-1Anchor boatKoreaAbout 89 tonnesEscort and support boat

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2007-12-07
Location36°52.3′N, 126°03.1′E, off Daesan and the Taean Peninsula, South Korea
Coordinates36.871667, 126.051667
RegionSouth Korea
Fatalities
Injuries
Missing
Cargo on Hebei Spirit263,541 tonnes of crude oil
Oil spilledAbout 10,900 tonnes
Direct damagePort-side cargo tanks Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of Hebei Spirit were ruptured.
Vessels lost

Key facts

  • The towing convoy departed Inchon on 6 December despite an adverse-weather forecast and was virtually out of control by about 04:00 on 7 December.
  • Samsung T-5’s towing wire parted at about 06:51, after the convoy had crossed ahead of Hebei Spirit.
  • The collision occurred at about 07:06. Hebei Spirit’s crew transferred oil, fitted collision mats and rigged an oil boom, but about 10,900 tonnes spilled.
  • The Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal found the towing convoy principally responsible and also treated shortcomings on the anchored tanker as a contributing cause. The Hong Kong safety investigation reached a more limited conclusion about the tanker’s pre-collision decisions.

Narrative

Hebei Spirit arrived off Daesan on 6 December with a full crude-oil cargo and anchored at a position assigned by Daesan Vessel Traffic Information Service. The crane barge Samsung No. 1 was returning from Inchon to Geoje under stern tow by Samho T-3 and Samsung T-5, with Samsung A-1 assisting at the other end of the barge.

Weather deteriorated overnight. The Hong Kong investigation reported winds of about 30 to 35 knots, Beaufort force 6 to 7, and rough seas near the tanker. The convoy lost control and drifted toward the anchorage. After the convoy passed ahead of Hebei Spirit, the Samsung T-5 towing wire parted. The crane barge continued to drift despite an attempt to anchor and collided with the tanker at about 07:06, rupturing the port-side Nos. 1, 3 and 5 cargo tanks.

The tanker crew transferred oil from damaged tanks, rigged collision mats over the ruptures and deployed an oil boom. The Hong Kong report estimated the release at about 10,900 tonnes. It concluded that the tanker’s post-collision actions complied with its Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan, while the Korean tribunal record reached a different conclusion about the extent to which tanker-side emergency response increased the pollution.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2007-12-06 14:50 localThe towing convoy departed Inchon for Geoje.
2007-12-06 17:18 localDaesan VTIS assigned Hebei Spirit an anchorage position.
2007-12-06 19:18 localHebei Spirit dropped anchor at 36°52.3′N, 126°03.1′E.
2007-12-07 04:00 localThe towing convoy was reported to be virtually out of control in deteriorating weather.
2007-12-07 06:09 localHebei Spirit called Daesan VTIS about the approaching crane barge.
2007-12-07 06:22 localVTIS asked Hebei Spirit to heave anchor; the Master did not do so at the close range then existing.
2007-12-07 06:51 localSamsung T-5’s towing wire parted after the convoy passed ahead of Hebei Spirit.
2007-12-07 07:06 localSamsung No. 1 collided with Hebei Spirit.
2007-12-07 after 07:06The tanker crew began oil-transfer, collision-mat and oil-boom measures; the spill was later estimated at about 10,900 tonnes.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Departure in forecast adverse weatherConfirmed findingThe Hong Kong investigation identified the decision to commence the towing voyage despite an adverse forecast as the main contributory factor.
Loss of towing control in rough weatherConfirmed findingThe convoy’s towing capability could not overcome the weather, the barge drifted toward the anchorage, and the towing wire parted near the tanker.
Delayed warning to traffic and VTISConfirmed findingThe Hong Kong investigation found that delayed notification by the tow Master left insufficient time for Hebei Spirit and nearby vessels to take avoiding action.
Tanker watchkeeping and engine readinessConfirmed findingThe Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal record treated tanker-side watchkeeping and readiness to use the main engine as an additional cause. The Hong Kong investigation separately considered the Master’s decision not to heave anchor at close range reasonable.

Investigation

The Hong Kong Marine Accident Investigation Section report, dated 10 February 2009, was prepared as a safety investigation under the IMO casualty-investigation code and stated that it was not intended to apportion blame or liability. Its conclusions identified the weather decision, loss of control and delayed notification as the main factors. It also recorded the tanker’s anti-pollution actions and the estimated spill.

The Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal’s 4 December 2008 decision, available through the Korean national law information system, attributed the collision primarily to the towing convoy’s failure to respond early to worsening weather, loss of towing control, failure to warn and the parted wire. It also found tanker-side watchkeeping and engine-readiness shortcomings to be contributory and treated the post-collision emergency response as relevant to the extent of pollution. The IOPC Funds’ record summarizes the tribunal outcome as shared responsibility involving the Samsung towing side and Hebei Spirit, with appeals noted.

References

Similar incidents