Classification
- Incident Type: Allision
- Severity: Medium
- Investigation: JTSB investigated the casualty as a collision with a sea wall.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | FLEVODIJK |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Netherlands [NL] |
| IMO Number | 9412488 |
| Gross Tonnage | 9,994 |
| LOA (m) | |
| Breadth (m) | |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | |
| Crew Size | 15 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2011-08-19 |
| Time | 04:39 local time (UTC+9) |
| Location | Sea wall on the northern side of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan |
| Coordinates | 34.6317, 135.0333 |
| Region | Japan |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | Bulbous bow damaged with recesses and broken holes; part of the sea wall was damaged. |
| Economic Damage | |
| Environmental Damage |
Key facts
- JTSB's report identifies the master, second officer, and 13 other crew members as aboard.
- The vessel allided with the sea wall at about 04:39 local time at approximately 34.6317, 135.0333.
- The bulbous bow was damaged and part of the sea wall was broken; the report states that there were no casualties.
- JTSB considered it probable that the second officer, acting as sole lookout while the vessel was on autopilot at night, fell asleep.
Narrative
On 19 August 2011, FLEVODIJK was proceeding north-eastward on the Harima Nada Sea off the western coast of Awajishima Island toward the west entrance of the Akashi Strait. The vessel was being steered by autopilot at night. At about 04:39 local time, it allided with the sea wall on the northern side of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan.
The JTSB report identifies the master, second officer, and 13 other crew members as being aboard. FLEVODIJK's bulbous bow sustained damage including recesses and broken holes, and part of the sea wall was damaged. The report states that there were no casualties.
JTSB's probable-cause analysis states that the second officer was the sole lookout on the bridge and had fallen asleep while the vessel proceeded under autopilot. The report also states that he had begun to feel drowsy, walked around the bridge in an attempt to relieve the drowsiness, and later sat in the bridge chair without overcoming it. The vessel consequently continued toward the sea wall.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2011-08-19 04:39 local | FLEVODIJK allided with the sea wall on the northern side of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sole lookout fell asleep while the vessel was on autopilot | Confirmed finding | JTSB's probable-cause analysis attributes the allision to the second officer falling asleep while serving as sole lookout at night. |
Investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board investigated the casualty and published Marine Accident Investigation Report MA2014-1. The report states that the probable cause was the second officer falling asleep while serving as sole lookout as FLEVODIJK proceeded under autopilot toward the Akashi Strait. It records damage to the bulbous bow and sea wall and no casualties.
References
- JTSB Marine Accident Investigation Report MA2014-1
- Dutch Safety Board record of the FLEVODIJK allision
Related
- FLEVODIJK
- Japan
- Allision
- Watchkeeping and Navigation Monitoring Failure
- Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB)