Classification
- Incident Type: Cargo Loss
- Severity: Low
- Region: Pacific Ocean
The casualty was a loss of timber deck cargo without a reported vessel loss. The investigation report does not state a human casualty count or monetary damage estimate.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Ansac Orient |
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Flag State | Panama [PA] |
| IMO Number | 9115092 |
| Gross Tonnage | 16715 |
| LOA (m) | 169.03 |
| Breadth (m) | 27.20 |
| Owner/Operator | IMA Lines Co. Ltd / Imabari Senpaku Co. Ltd |
| Year Built | 1995 |
| Crew Size |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2004-02-05 |
| Location | En route to Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | -37.416667, 178.100000 |
| Region | Pacific Ocean |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | About 45 timber logs lost overboard |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- At about 0200 NZDT on 5 February 2004, logs fell from the after end of No. 3 hatch while the vessel was at 37°25′S, 178°06′E.
- The falling logs slackened the lashings; the deck cargo then shifted athwartships and bent the portable log stanchions.
- The vessel continued toward Tauranga, took a pilot at 1150, and was all-fast at Mount Maunganui at 1400.
- Maritime New Zealand identified short logs, limited longitudinal restraint, a stiff loading condition, stern trim, and ballast distribution as contributing factors.
Narrative
Ansac Orient loaded logs at Gisborne and Napier before departing Napier on 4 February 2004 for Tauranga. The vessel secured the deck cargo while anchored outside Napier and then sailed at about 13 knots. The report recorded a stiff departure condition, with a metacentric height of 3.38 m, a two-metre stern trim, and ballast in the No. 2 double-bottom tanks. Short logs were carried on hatch Nos. 3 and 5.
At about 0200 NZDT on 5 February, the vessel encountered a swell on its starboard bow and rolled violently. Short logs fell from the after end of No. 3 hatch, the lashings slackened, and the deck cargo shifted athwartships. The movement bent the portable log stanchions on both sides of the vessel. Maritime New Zealand estimated that about 45 logs went overboard. An attempt to alter course toward Tauranga at 0430 brought the swell farther onto the beam and produced further violent rolling, so the Master returned to the previous course. The vessel later altered toward Tauranga, boarded a pilot at 1150, and berthed at Mount Maunganui at 1400.
The report concluded that the stow was not adequately suited to the short logs and partial loading arrangement. It also found that the deck-cargo arrangement blocked safe access for crew members to inspect and adjust the lashings, contrary to the applicable timber deck cargo requirements and the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2004-02-01 07:20 NZDT | Ansac Orient arrived at Gisborne to load logs. |
| 2004-02-02 01:25 NZDT | The vessel left Gisborne for Napier with a part cargo in its holds. |
| 2004-02-04 04:30 NZDT | Loading was completed at Napier. |
| 2004-02-04 06:40-10:30 NZDT | The vessel anchored outside Napier while the crew secured the deck cargo. |
| 2004-02-04 10:50 NZDT | Ansac Orient sailed for Tauranga. |
| 2004-02-05 02:00 NZDT | Logs fell from No. 3 hatch and the deck cargo shifted; about 45 logs were later estimated lost overboard. |
| 2004-02-05 04:30 NZDT | The Master abandoned an attempted course alteration toward Tauranga after further violent rolling. |
| 2004-02-05 11:50 NZDT | A pilot boarded off Tauranga. |
| 2004-02-05 14:00 NZDT | The vessel was all-fast at No. 9 berth, Mount Maunganui. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Short logs on No. 3 hatch | Confirmed finding | The investigation identified the short-log stow as a contributing factor in the initial cargo movement. |
| Limited longitudinal restraint | Confirmed finding | Apart from overall athwartships lashings, the report found no restraint for fore-and-aft movement. |
| Stiff loading condition | Confirmed finding | The vessel had a high metacentric height and a short calculated roll period. |
| Stern trim and ballast distribution | Confirmed finding | The vessel left Napier trimmed two metres by the stern, with the No. 2 double-bottom tanks full of water ballast. |
| Unsafe access to the lashings | Confirmed finding | The deck-cargo arrangement prevented safe access for crew members to inspect and adjust the lashings. |
Investigation
Maritime New Zealand investigated the casualty as report 04 3395. It found that violent rolling caused the initial loss of short logs, that the lashings then slackened, and that the cargo shifted and bent the portable log stanchions. The report considered the loading plan, cargo arrangement, vessel stability, trim, ballast, and access requirements, and recommended that the Master, owners, and chartering organizations be reminded of their obligations under the IMO timber deck cargo code.