Tristan Janice (2014) | Novatug Maritime Wiki

Classification

Incident Type: Allision
Severity: Medium

Vessel Details

Field	Value
Vessel Name	Tristan Janice
Vessel Type	Offshore Vessel
Flag State	United States [US]
IMO Number
Official Number	598246
Call Sign	WDC3975
Gross Tonnage	93
LOA (m)	30.6
Breadth (m)	7.9
Bollard Pull (t)
Power (kW)	895
Owner/Operator	TRTB Inc.
TEU
Year Built	1978
Crew Size	4

Incident Details

Field	Value
Date	2014-02-18
Location	Ship Shoal 119 W natural gas platform, Gulf of Mexico
Coordinates	28.823333, -90.921667
Region	Gulf of Mexico
Fatalities
Injuries	0
Missing
Cargo Loss
Direct Damage	USD 545,000 total: USD 135,000 to Tristan Janice and USD 410,000 to the platform.
Economic Damage
Insured Loss
Salvage/Cleanup Cost

Key facts

At about 07:12 local time on 18 February 2014, Tristan Janice struck the unmanned Ship Shoal 119 W platform in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Four people were aboard. The NTSB reported no injuries and no water pollution.
The vessel proceeded at about 9.5 knots in heavy fog without a posted lookout; the starboard engine throttle had been tied off in the engine room at full-ahead.
The platform's ruptured gas service line released more than 22,000 cubic feet of natural gas, and operations at Ship Shoal 119 W and neighboring platforms stopped for 20 days.
The NTSB assessed total damage at about USD 545,000, split between USD 135,000 to the vessel and USD 410,000 to the platform.

Narrative

Tristan Janice, a US-registered offshore supply vessel operated by TRTB Inc., left Golden Meadow, Louisiana, late on 17 February 2014. The vessel was intended to remain near Port Fourchon overnight, but the mate continued the voyage into the open Gulf of Mexico. The NTSB report states that the vessel entered open water at about 02:36 on 18 February and was likely placed on autopilot.

The starboard engine had an air-leak problem. The mate directed a deckhand to tie off the starboard throttle in the engine room so it would remain at full-ahead, removing wheelhouse control of that engine. By 06:35, the captain was in the wheelhouse, but no formal watch turnover had occurred. Visibility was about 0.125 nautical mile in heavy fog, and no lookout was posted. The vessel maintained about 9.5 knots.

At about 07:12, the captain saw Ship Shoal 119 W approximately 200 yards ahead. He attempted to slow and turn the vessel, but the autopilot initially prevented an effective manoeuvre. Tristan Janice struck the unmanned platform at about 9.3 knots. The impact fractured and indented the bow area and damaged other vessel equipment. It also damaged platform rails, catwalks, and risers, rupturing a gas service line. More than 22,000 cubic feet of natural gas escaped into the atmosphere. The NTSB reported no injuries and no water pollution, but total vessel and platform damage was approximately USD 545,000.

Sequence of events

Date/time	Event
2014-02-17 22:30 local	Tristan Janice shifted between berths near Golden Meadow, Louisiana.
2014-02-17 23:24 local	The vessel left Golden Meadow for Port Fourchon.
2014-02-18 02:36 local	The vessel entered open waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
2014-02-18 06:15 local	A deckhand was directed to wake the other two crewmembers for the watch.
2014-02-18 06:35 local	The captain entered the wheelhouse and found no one there; visibility was severely restricted by fog.
2014-02-18 07:12 local	Tristan Janice allided with Ship Shoal 119 W at about 9.3 knots.
2014-02-18 07:14 local	Deckhands removed the line holding the starboard throttle at full-ahead.
2014-02-18 07:30 local	The crew navigated toward Freshwater City without reporting the allision to authorities.

Contributing factors

The NTSB identified the following findings and probable-cause factors.

Factor	Evidence status	Description
Watchkeeping and operational practices	Confirmed finding	NTSB probable cause: The captain and mate used poor watchkeeping and operational practices to ensure safe navigation.
No lookout in restricted visibility	Confirmed finding	The vessel proceeded in heavy fog without a posted lookout or regular monitoring of its progress.
Engine control defeated	Confirmed finding	The starboard throttle was intentionally tied off in the engine room, removing wheelhouse control while the vessel continued at full-ahead.
Safety management procedures and oversight	Confirmed finding	The NTSB found that the vessel owner had inadequate procedures and oversight of the safety management system, including unclear captain designation and no log entry for the throttle problem.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board completed investigation DCA14LM007 and adopted Marine Accident Brief MAB-15/18 on 25 August 2015. The NTSB determined that poor watchkeeping and operational practices by the captain and mate, together with inadequate owner procedures and safety-management oversight, were the probable cause. The report also recommends voyage planning that identifies restricted visibility and other navigational hazards.

References

NTSB investigation page - completed investigation record, findings, location, and damage summary.
NTSB Marine Accident Brief MAB-15/18 - official accident brief with timeline, vessel particulars, damage, and probable cause.