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Accidents

Nomadic Milde and Atlantic Venus collision (2020)

After loading lead concentrate, *Nomadic Milde* proceeded to the Kenner Bend Anchorage. The pilot let go the starboard anchor at 15:15 and the port anchor at 15:20, then departed the bridge at 15:40 and the vessel at 15:42. The river current was estimated at 4-5 knots and the river level met the NTSB's high-water definition.

Classification

FieldValue
Incident typeCollision
Secondary eventsAllision with chemical dock; grounding
SeverityHigh
Investigation statusNTSB investigation completed

Vessel Details

VesselTypeFlag stateIMOGTLOA (m)Year builtPersons aboard
Nomadic MildeGeneral cargoMarshall Islands [MH]94635549,530138.1201116
Atlantic VenusBulk carrierPanama [PA]962825721,441179.9201220

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2020-05-08
LocationLower Mississippi River, mile 114.5, South Kenner, Louisiana
Coordinates29.9672, -90.2767
RegionUnited States
Fatalities
Injuries0 reported
Missing
Property damageUSD 16,854,348 estimated
Environmental damageApproximately 13 gallons of stern-tube lubricating oil
Chemical releaseNone reported

Key facts

  • Nomadic Milde and Atlantic Venus were both anchored when the collision occurred at approximately 16:55 local time.
  • The collision followed anchor dragging by Nomadic Milde in a current estimated at 4-5 knots during a high-water event.
  • Nomadic Milde later struck Cornerstone Chemical Dock at approximately 18:58 local time and grounded.
  • NTSB reported no injuries, no fire or explosion, and no chemical-product release.
  • NTSB estimated damage at approximately USD 5.5-6 million for Nomadic Milde, USD 410,943 for Atlantic Venus, and USD 10,943,405 for the dock.

Narrative

After loading lead concentrate, Nomadic Milde proceeded to the Kenner Bend Anchorage. The pilot let go the starboard anchor at 15:15 and the port anchor at 15:20, then departed the bridge at 15:40 and the vessel at 15:42. The river current was estimated at 4-5 knots and the river level met the NTSB's high-water definition.

The vessel began turning and dragging anchor around 15:50. The ECDIS anchor-watch radius was set to 590 feet, while the initial distance from Nomadic Milde's stern to Atlantic Venus's bow was approximately 490 feet. The watch officers did not detect the movement through sufficient cross-checking of the available position information. Atlantic Venus warned Nomadic Milde at 16:13, but the bridge team did not take effective action until the vessels were approximately 182 feet apart at 16:39.

The master requested a pilot and started the main engine while VTS instructed the vessel not to heave the anchors and to maneuver with the engine. At 16:55, Nomadic Milde collided with Atlantic Venus. Both vessels remained in contact and moved toward the bank. After tugs and pilots arrived, Nomadic Milde struck Cornerstone Chemical Dock cell 2 at 18:58 at approximately 6 knots and grounded.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2020-05-08 13:20 localPilot boarded Nomadic Milde for the transit to the anchorage.
2020-05-08 15:15 localStarboard anchor let go.
2020-05-08 15:20 localPort anchor let go.
2020-05-08 15:40 localMain engine stopped; pilot left the bridge.
2020-05-08 15:50 localVessel began turning and dragging anchor.
2020-05-08 16:13 localAtlantic Venus warned Nomadic Milde to monitor its holding position.
2020-05-08 16:39 localBridge team recognized that the vessels were too close; separation was approximately 182 feet.
2020-05-08 16:55 localNomadic Milde collided with Atlantic Venus.
2020-05-08 18:58 localNomadic Milde struck Cornerstone Chemical Dock cell 2 and grounded.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Ineffective position monitoringConfirmed findingNTSB identified ineffective monitoring by the Nomadic Milde bridge team as the probable cause of the collision.
High-water conditions and strong currentConfirmed findingThe river was in a high-water event and the current was estimated at 4-5 knots.
Anchor-watch alarm radiusConfirmed findingThe 590-foot ECDIS alarm radius exceeded the initial approximately 490-foot separation from Atlantic Venus, so it could not provide a timely warning.
Inadequate cross-checkingConfirmed findingNTSB found that the watch officers did not effectively use radar, visual observation, and other available means to verify the vessel's position.
Limited maneuvering with anchors downConfirmed findingVTS instructed the vessel to keep the anchors down and maneuver with the engine while awaiting a pilot, which limited control in the strong current.

Investigation

NTSB investigation DCA20FM017 was completed, with Marine Accident Brief MAB-21-15 issued on 11 August 2021. NTSB's probable cause was the Nomadic Milde bridge team's failure to effectively monitor the vessel's position and detect anchor dragging during high-water conditions near other vessels.

References

  1. NTSB investigation page: Collision of Cargo Vessel Nomadic Milde and Bulk Carrier Atlantic Venus
  2. NTSB Marine Accident Brief MAB-21-15
  3. NTSB press release: Lack of Effective Monitoring of Position at Anchor Leads to $16.9M Marine Accident
  4. NTSB public docket DCA20FM017

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