Classification
- Incident Type: Cargo Loss
- Severity: High
- Primary Source: Transportation Safety Board of Canada Marine Transportation Safety Investigation Report M21P0297
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Zim Kingston |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Malta [MT] |
| IMO Number | 9389693 |
| Gross Tonnage | 40030 |
| LOA (m) | 260.05 |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Power (kW) | 36560 |
| Owner/Operator | Balticsea Marine Inc. / Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd. |
| TEU | 4253 |
| Year Built | 2008 |
| Crew Size | 21 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2021-10-21 |
| Location | La Perouse Bank, about 27 nautical miles south of Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada; subsequent fire while anchored off Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 48.470167, -125.661167 |
| Region | Canada |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Cargo Loss | 109 containers lost overboard |
| Direct Damage | 109 containers lost overboard, 53 containers damaged on deck, and fire damage in 6 containers |
Key facts
- Zim Kingston rolled 36 degrees and lost 109 containers overboard while drifting at La Perouse Bank, about 27 nautical miles south of Ucluelet.
- The vessel's position during the heavy rolling and container loss was reported as 48°28.21' N, 125°39.67' W.
- About 36 hours later, while anchored at Constance Bank off Victoria, a fire in a damaged dangerous-goods container spread to five nearby containers.
- The fire affected six containers and burned for five days before it was declared extinguished.
- The chief officer was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation; no fatalities were reported.
Narrative
On 21 October 2021, Zim Kingston was holding offshore while awaiting a berth at Vancouver. The master positioned the vessel to drift at La Perouse Bank, about 27 nautical miles south of Ucluelet, because no anchorage was available. Winds were between 34 and 40 knots during the day, with wave heights of about 5 to 6 metres. At around 2229, while the vessel was drifting northward with its bow oriented into the waves, it experienced heavy rolling and pitching for about one and a half minutes. The maximum roll was 36 degrees to both port and starboard. The reported position was 48°28.21' N, 125°39.67' W, and crew members observed that containers had been lost.
The vessel lost 109 containers overboard, representing about 11 percent of the deck cargo. A further 53 containers were damaged on deck, and the port-side accommodation ladder was damaged. The crew notified marine traffic authorities and nearby vessels, then proceeded to Constance Bank, about four nautical miles south of Victoria, where the vessel anchored on 22 October at 1200.
On 23 October at about 1046, smoke was noticed while Zim Kingston remained at anchor. The crew found a fire in a collapsed container in bay 14 containing potassium amyl xanthate. The fire alarm was activated at 1053. The fire spread to five nearby containers, two of which also contained xanthates and three of which contained tires and other consumer items. Crew members began boundary cooling and firefighting, while shore-based specialists and vessels of opportunity assisted the response. Ten crew members were evacuated during the response, and the chief officer was treated in hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire was declared extinguished on 28 October at 1545 after continuing intermittently for several days.
The TSB reported that four lost containers were recovered from northern Vancouver Island shores in November 2021 and that a later underwater survey located 29 containers on the ocean floor near the occurrence site. No economic-loss estimate was reported in the reviewed investigation.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2021-10-21 03:00 PDT | Zim Kingston arrived near La Perouse Bank and began drifting while awaiting an anchorage. |
| 2021-10-21 22:29 PDT | The vessel experienced heavy rolling and pitching, with a maximum roll of 36 degrees, and containers were lost overboard. |
| 2021-10-22 12:00 PDT | Zim Kingston anchored at Constance Bank, about four nautical miles south of Victoria. |
| 2021-10-23 10:46 PDT | Smoke was noticed while the vessel was at anchor. |
| 2021-10-23 10:53 PDT | The fire alarm was activated after a fire was found in a damaged dangerous-goods container. |
| 2021-10-28 15:45 PDT | The fire was declared extinguished after continued firefighting, cooling, and monitoring. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Parametric rolling | Confirmed finding | The TSB determined that the vessel experienced parametric rolling and that the resulting extreme motions precipitated the container loss. |
| Risk not effectively monitored or mitigated | Confirmed finding | The TSB found that the owner had not provided procedures or specific tools for the bridge crew to assess and manage parametric-rolling risk while the vessel held offshore. |
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigated the casualty in Marine Transportation Safety Investigation Report M21P0297. The report identified deficiencies in guidance and preparedness for marine emergencies, including the need for comprehensive industry guidance on parametric-rolling risk. It also described the subsequent dangerous-goods fire and the response by the crew, shore-based specialists, and assisting vessels.