Classification
- Incident Type: Grounded
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Celtica Hav |
| Vessel Type | General Cargo |
| Flag State | Bahamas [BS] |
| IMO Number | 8422022 |
| Gross Tonnage | 1537 |
| LOA (m) | 82.45 |
| Owner/Operator | HAV Bulk AS; HAV Ship Management NorRus AS |
| Year Built | 1984 |
| Cargo | 2070 tonnes anthracite |
| Persons on board | 7 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2018-03-27 |
| Time | 14:38 |
| Location | Approaches to the River Neath, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51.6100, -3.8300 |
| Region | United Kingdom |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Vessels sunk or lost | |
| Investigation Body | Marine Accident Investigation Branch |
| Direct Damage | Extensive shell plate damage, multiple hull breaches, ballast tank flooding, and engine-room flooding. |
| Economic Damage | |
| Environmental impact | No damage to the environment was reported. |
Key facts
- The pilot had control of the steering and speed when Celtica Hav grounded at 1438 on 27 March 2018.
- The vessel left the dredged channel and passed over a granite training wall in the approach channel.
- The grounding caused extensive shell plate damage, water ingress into several ballast tanks, and engine-room flooding.
- The vessel was quickly refloated using the ship's engine and the pilot boat, then stabilized with bilge, ballast, and submersible salvage pumps.
- MAIB found that no detailed pilotage plan had been prepared, the master/pilot exchange did not cover all hazards, and electronic navigation aids were not adequately used.
Narrative
On 19 March 2018, Celtica Hav sailed from Liepaja, Latvia, carrying 2,070 tonnes of anthracite for Briton Ferry. The vessel arrived in Swansea Bay on 26 March and anchored about one mile south of the approach to the River Neath. On 27 March at 1345, it weighed anchor. A Port of Neath pilot boarded at 1415 for the passage through the approach channel.
The master and pilot completed a basic master-pilot exchange, but no detailed pilotage plan had been prepared. As Celtica Hav approached the channel, the pilot had control of the steering and speed. At about 1429, the vessel passed around a starboard buoy approximately 10 metres to its north at about 5 knots and continued close to the starboard edge of the dredged channel. The pilot navigated mainly by eye and did not use the available electronic chart system or radar to monitor the vessel's position. The bridge team did not maintain an independent track of the passage.
At 1438, Celtica Hav left the dredged channel and passed over a granite training wall. The vessel scraped along the wall for about 200 metres before the master stopped the engine. The hull sustained extensive shell plate damage and multiple breaches, allowing water into starboard ballast tanks and the engine room. The vessel was quickly refloated using its engine and assistance from the pilot boat, then moved into deeper water. Bilge, ballast, and submersible pumps were used to control the flooding and reduce the resulting list.
The pilot notified the harbourmaster approximately 15 minutes after the grounding and alerted the coastguard at 1757. A local tug arrived at about 0400 on 28 March, and Celtica Hav berthed in Swansea at about 0600. The seven people on board were not injured, and no environmental damage was reported.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018-03-19 | Celtica Hav sailed from Liepaja carrying 2,070 tonnes of anthracite for Briton Ferry. |
| 2018-03-26 17:00 | The vessel anchored about one mile south of the River Neath approach in Swansea Bay. |
| 2018-03-27 13:45 | The vessel weighed anchor to begin the approach. |
| 2018-03-27 14:15 | A Port of Neath pilot boarded. |
| 2018-03-27 14:29 | Celtica Hav passed around a starboard buoy and continued close to the starboard edge of the dredged channel. |
| 2018-03-27 14:38 | The vessel left the dredged channel, crossed the granite training wall, and grounded. |
| 2018-03-27, shortly after grounding | The vessel was refloated with its engine and assistance from the pilot boat, then stabilized with pumps. |
| 2018-03-27 17:57 | The pilot alerted the coastguard. |
| 2018-03-28 04:00 | A local tug arrived. |
| 2018-03-28 06:00 | Celtica Hav berthed in Swansea. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inadequate pilotage planning | Confirmed finding | No detailed pilotage plan had been prepared, and the port's pilotage-plan template had fallen out of use. |
| Incomplete master-pilot exchange | Confirmed finding | The exchange did not cover all relevant hazards, including the training walls bordering the approach. |
| Inadequate positional monitoring | Confirmed finding | The pilot lacked sufficient positional awareness, while the electronic chart system and radar were not used effectively to monitor the transit. |
| Ineffective bridge-team challenge | Confirmed finding | The bridge team did not maintain an independent track or intervene as the vessel left the dredged channel. |
| Incomplete port risk assessment | Confirmed finding | The port's risk assessments did not adequately identify and control the grounding hazard posed by the training walls. |
Investigation
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch published report 1/2019 on 24 January 2019. It concluded that Celtica Hav grounded because it left the dredged channel and crossed the training wall. The investigation identified deficiencies in pilotage planning, the master-pilot exchange, pilot positional awareness, bridge-team monitoring, and port risk assessment. It also found that relevant chart and sailing-direction information did not adequately describe the approach hazards. MAIB made recommendations 2019/101 to 2019/104 to Neath Port Authority and HAV Ship Management NorRus AS. The UK Hydrographic Office subsequently issued Notices to Mariners updating the relevant chart and sailing directions.