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Accidents

Star Princess (1995)

Star Princess grounded on Poundstone Rock in Alaska's Lynn Canal after a bridge-team failure involving pilot performance and fatigue.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Grounded
  • Severity: High
  • Evidence: National Transportation Safety Board Marine Accident Report MAR-97/02.

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameStar Princess
Vessel TypeCruise
Flag StateLiberia [LR]
IMO Number8611398
Call SignELIR8
Gross Tonnage63524
LOA (m)245.6
Breadth (m)32.23
TEU
Year Built1989
Crew Size639
Passenger Complement1568
OwnerCoseida Marine, Inc.
OperatorPrincess Cruises Liberia, Inc.

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date1995-06-23
LocationPoundstone Rock, Lynn Canal, Alaska, United States
Coordinates58.525000, -134.916667
RegionUnited States
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Missing
Cargo Loss
Direct DamageUSD 7.16 million
Economic DamageUSD 20 million
Insured Loss
Salvage/Cleanup Cost

Key facts

  • Star Princess was carrying 1,568 passengers and 639 crewmembers from Skagway to Juneau under the direction of a southeast Alaska pilot.
  • At 01:42 local time, the vessel grounded on submerged Poundstone Rock, about 21 nautical miles northwest of Juneau.
  • The grounding ruptured oil tanks and spilled at least 5 gallons of oil; the vessel was taken to Auke Bay for damage assessment and passenger disembarkation.
  • The NTSB reported no fatalities or injuries and estimated total accident cost at USD 27.16 million, including USD 7.16 million in damage and USD 20 million in lost revenue.
  • The vessel was repaired and resumed its cruise schedule on 7 August 1995.

Narrative

Star Princess was transiting Lynn Canal from Skagway to Juneau with 1,568 passengers and 639 crewmembers. A southeast Alaska pilot had the conn. While approaching Poundstone Rock, the pilot altered course only two degrees to the left as the northbound Fair Princess approached. He did not establish bridge-to-bridge radio contact with Fair Princess and relied heavily on visual references and limited radar use in low light.

The NTSB found that the pilot remained on a course that brought Star Princess close to the submerged rock and that the two-degree alteration was insufficient to clear it. The watch officers did not adequately monitor the pilot's navigation, project their fixes forward, or communicate the developing danger. At 01:42 local time on 23 June 1995, Star Princess grounded on the east side of Poundstone Rock. The vessel slowed, continued to Auke Bay with Coast Guard permission, and anchored at about 03:30. A subsequent inspection found damage to the keel, starboard hull bottom, fuel and ballast tanks, cofferdams, and propeller blades. About 1,800 tons of water entered four double-bottom tanks, and at least 5 gallons of oil spilled before leaking stopped.

The 1,568 passengers were transferred ashore over the following two days. Star Princess departed for a Portland shipyard on 27 June, underwent repairs, and returned to its cruise schedule on 7 August. The NTSB attributed the grounding to poor pilot performance, possibly exacerbated by chronic fatigue caused by obstructive sleep apnea, with inadequate bridge resource management as a contributing factor.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
1995-06-22Star Princess was en route from Skagway to Juneau through Lynn Canal under a southeast Alaska pilot.
1995-06-23 01:35 localThe pilot ordered a two-degree course change toward 153 degrees true while approaching Poundstone Rock.
1995-06-23 01:42 localStar Princess grounded on the east side of Poundstone Rock.
1995-06-23 01:44 localStar Princess and Fair Princess passed each other south of Poundstone Rock; the crew assessed the damage and flooding.
1995-06-23 02:30 localThe off-watch pilot relieved the pilot on watch for the approach to Auke Bay.
1995-06-23 03:30 localStar Princess anchored in Auke Bay.
1995-06-23 09:18 localThe master briefed the passengers about the situation.
1995-06-27Star Princess departed Auke Bay for a Portland shipyard for permanent repairs.
1995-08-07The repaired vessel resumed its cruise schedule.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Pilot performance and insufficient course alterationConfirmed findingThe NTSB determined that the pilot's decision to remain essentially on the existing course and the two-degree alteration seven minutes before grounding did not clear Poundstone Rock.
Chronic fatigue from obstructive sleep apneaConfirmed findingThe NTSB found that the pilot was chronically fatigued from obstructive sleep apnea and that fatigue may have reduced his ability to assess and respond to the developing situation.
Inadequate bridge resource managementConfirmed findingThe pilot and watch officers did not coordinate navigation duties effectively; the watch officers did not challenge or sufficiently monitor the pilot's decisions.
Limited radar use and lack of communication with Fair PrincessConfirmed findingThe NTSB found that limited radar use hampered situational assessment and that the pilot should have established communication with the other vessel before passing the rock.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the casualty and issued Marine Accident Report MAR-97/02. It determined that the probable cause was the pilot's poor performance, possibly exacerbated by chronic fatigue from sleep apnea. The NTSB identified the absence of bridge resource management between the pilot and watch officers as a contributing factor and issued safety recommendations concerning pilot fitness, bridge resource management, pilot oversight, and emergency communication.

References

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