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Accidents

Flag Gangos (2014)

Flag Gangos departed the Cargill dock at Reserve, Louisiana, about four hours before the accident with a cargo of grain and corn and a New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association pilot aboard. Before departure, the pilot requested a hard-over steering test, and the rudder responded normally. At about 22:12, near river mile marker 98, the pilot ordered a small starboard heading change. The rudder moved to starboard but did not respond when the helmsman tried to ease it to port. The vessel continued turning to starboard.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Collision / Allision
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameFlag Gangos
Other VesselsPamisos; Captain Shawn D. Martinez; WEB235
Vessel TypeBulk Carrier
Flag StateMalta [MT]
IMO Number9643908
Gross Tonnage32983
LOA (m)189
Breadth (m)32.3
Year Built2013
Owner/OperatorGolden Union Shipping Co.
Persons on Board23, including one pilot

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2014-08-12
TimeAbout 22:15 local time (CDT)
LocationMississippi River at Gretna, Louisiana, immediately across from New Orleans
Coordinates29.920000, -90.068333
RegionUnited States
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Direct DamageAbout USD 17.5 million

Key facts

  • The rudder stopped responding to port commands at about 22:12 near river mile marker 98.
  • Emergency astern engine starts and the port anchor reduced Flag Gangos's speed from about 8.8 knots to about 2 knots but did not prevent impact.
  • Flag Gangos struck Pamisos, then the IMTT floating pier; the pier subsequently contacted WEB235, which was made up to Captain Shawn D. Martinez.
  • About 1,200 gallons of oil spilled onto vessel decks and into the river.
  • Reported damage totaled about USD 17.5 million, including approximately USD 16 million to the terminal.
  • The NTSB identified a failed hydraulic solenoid valve and coil, debris in the valve, and contaminated hydraulic oil.

Narrative

Flag Gangos departed the Cargill dock at Reserve, Louisiana, about four hours before the accident with a cargo of grain and corn and a New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association pilot aboard. Before departure, the pilot requested a hard-over steering test, and the rudder responded normally. At about 22:12, near river mile marker 98, the pilot ordered a small starboard heading change. The rudder moved to starboard but did not respond when the helmsman tried to ease it to port. The vessel continued turning to starboard.

The pilot notified the bridge team and the Coast Guard vessel traffic service, ordered the main engine full astern and then emergency full astern, and directed the crew to drop the port anchor. He sounded more than 70 short whistle blasts to warn the IMTT terminal and nearby vessels. The emergency astern starts and anchor reduced the vessel's speed from about 8.8 knots to about 2 knots, but Flag Gangos could not stop before reaching the terminal.

At about 22:15, the bow of Flag Gangos struck the starboard quarter of the berthed oil tanker Pamisos. Flag Gangos then allided with the floating pier, which subsequently contacted fuel barge WEB235. The downriver current turned Flag Gangos, and three nearby tugboats helped hold the bulk carrier. Transfer operations had been shut down after the warnings, but about 1,200 gallons of oil spilled from transfer lines onto decks and into the river.

The NTSB found that a hydraulic solenoid valve was jammed with debris and its coil had failed electrically. It determined that the probable cause was the operating company's delay in completing a mandatory steering-system upgrade and its failure to routinely test hydraulic fluid for debris. The manufacturer's failure to schedule and complete the upgrade was contributory.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2014-08-12 about 18:15Flag Gangos had departed Reserve, Louisiana, about four hours before the casualty.
2014-08-12 about 22:12The rudder stopped responding to port commands, and the vessel continued turning to starboard.
2014-08-12 about 22:12-22:15The pilot ordered astern propulsion, dropped the port anchor, notified vessel traffic service, and sounded warning blasts.
2014-08-12 about 22:15Flag Gangos struck Pamisos, then allided with the floating pier; the pier contacted WEB235.
After the impactsThe starboard anchor and three nearby tugboats helped hold Flag Gangos against the current.
2015-12-22The NTSB published Marine Accident Brief NTSB/MAB-15/25.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Delayed steering-system upgradeConfirmed findingThe operating company had not completed a mandatory solenoid-coil upgrade before the accident.
Hydraulic-fluid testing not performedConfirmed findingThe NTSB found no evidence that steering hydraulic oil had been analyzed at the manufacturer's required interval despite repeated filter alarms.
Solenoid valve contaminationConfirmed findingThe failed port-side valve was jammed with debris, and postaccident oil analysis found ferrous particles, sand, silt, and other contamination.
Manufacturer scheduling failureConfirmed findingThe NTSB identified the steering-system manufacturer's failure to schedule and complete the mandatory upgrade as contributory.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the casualty as DCA14FM015 and published NTSB/MAB-15/25. Postaccident testing found a failed hydraulic solenoid valve and coil in the port side of the steering control block. The NTSB determined that the probable cause was the operating company's delay in completing a mandatory upgrade and failure to routinely test hydraulic fluid for debris, with the manufacturer's failure to complete the upgrade contributing. The report gives a total damage estimate of about USD 17.5 million but does not state insured loss or cleanup cost.

References

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