CSL Thames grounding in the Sound of Mull

Classification

Incident Type: Grounded
Severity: Low

Vessel Details

Field	Value
Vessel Name	CSL Thames
Vessel Type	Bulk Carrier
Flag State	Malta [MT]
IMO Number	9440447
Gross Tonnage	19538
LOA (m)	175
Breadth (m)	26.00
Year Built	2010
Cargo	Aggregates, 28,962 tonnes

Incident Details

Field	Value
Date	2011-08-09
Location	Sound of Mull, Scotland
Coordinates	56.5717, -5.9533
Region	United Kingdom
Fatalities	0
Injuries	0
Missing	0
Outcome	CSL Thames grounded briefly and sustained bottom damage with flooding of a ballast tank; no injuries or pollution were reported, and the vessel was repaired and returned to service.
Direct Damage
Estimated Economic Damage
Investigation Body	Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)

Key facts

CSL Thames grounded at about 10:25 local time on 9 August 2011 while on passage from Glensanda to Wilhelmshaven with 28,962 tonnes of aggregates aboard.
The third officer altered course to starboard to avoid other vessels and did not recognize that the projected track led into shallow water.
The ECDIS anti-grounding visual alarm activated, but the audible alarm did not function because the unit was not connected to a loudspeaker or buzzer.
The ECDIS safety contour was inappropriate for the vessel's draught, and the bridge team did not understand the vessel-specific ECDIS configuration well enough to challenge it.
The grounding caused bottom damage including a 3-metre fracture to the No. 3(P) ballast deep tank, which flooded. No injuries or pollution were reported.

Narrative

On 9 August 2011, the Maltese self-discharging bulk carrier CSL Thames was on passage from Glensanda to Wilhelmshaven carrying 28,962 tonnes of aggregates. After the pilot disembarked, the third officer took the con in the Sound of Mull. A sailing vessel and then a small vessel were encountered ahead, and the third officer altered course to starboard to avoid them.

The alteration was greater than intended for the available sea room. The third officer did not fully check the vessel's position or projected track, and CSL Thames continued toward shallow water. At about 10:25 local time, the vessel grounded briefly west of the Isle of Mull. The ECDIS anti-grounding visual alarm activated, but its audible alarm was not connected to a loudspeaker or buzzer. The safety contour was also inappropriate for the vessel's draught, while the bridge team lacked sufficient understanding of the equipment-specific configuration.

The grounding caused bottom damage, including a 3-metre fracture to the No. 3(P) ballast deep tank, which flooded. No injuries or pollution were reported, and the vessel was later repaired and returned to service. MAIB also identified loud music, routine communications, weak bridge-team management, and inadequate ECDIS familiarisation as factors that reduced attention to the developing navigation situation.

Sequence of events

Date/time	Event
2011-08-09	CSL Thames proceeded through the Sound of Mull from Glensanda toward Wilhelmshaven.
2011-08-09	The pilot disembarked and the third officer took the con.
2011-08-09	The third officer altered course to starboard to avoid other vessels.
2011-08-09 10:25 local	CSL Thames grounded briefly in shallow water.
2011-08-09	The vessel was assessed, repaired, and later returned to service.

Contributing factors

Factor	Evidence status	Description
Premature course alteration	Confirmed finding	The third officer altered course to avoid traffic without fully checking the resulting projected track.
Inappropriate ECDIS safety contour	Confirmed finding	The configured safety contour did not provide an adequate anti-grounding margin for the vessel's draught.
Failed ECDIS audible alarm	Confirmed finding	The visual alarm activated, but no loudspeaker or buzzer was connected to provide an audible warning.
Weak ECDIS familiarisation	Confirmed finding	The bridge team did not understand the vessel-specific setup well enough to question the missing audible warning and safety contour.
Bridge distractions	Confirmed finding	Loud music and routine communications reduced attention to the navigation situation.

Investigation

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch published its investigation report on the grounding. MAIB found that the third officer's course alteration and weak position monitoring led CSL Thames into shallow water. It also identified ECDIS configuration and alarm failures, weak bridge-team management, inadequate equipment familiarisation, and bridge distractions. The report records a serious marine casualty classification but no injuries or pollution.

References

MAIB report: CSL Thames grounding