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Accidents

Multiple collisions involving BALSA 37, SEAFARER/OCEAN 255, and CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD/B. NO. 155

Before dawn on 10 August 1993, outbound BALSA 37 and inbound SEAFARER/OCEAN 255 collided near the Egmont Channel and Mullet Key Channel turn in Tampa Bay. Less than one minute later, BALSA 37 collided with the inbound CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD/B. NO. 155 tow. The first impact ignited OCEAN 255's petroleum cargo, and the second breached B. NO. 155, releasing about 5,000 barrels of No. 6 oil. One SEAFARER crewmember suffered second-degree burns; no loss of life was reported.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Collision
  • Severity: High

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameBALSA 37
Other VesselsSEAFARER; OCEAN 255; CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD; B. NO. 155; EDNA ST. PHILLIP
Vessel TypeBulk carrier
Flag StatePhilippines [PH]
IMO Number8511794
Gross Tonnage4337
LOA (m)105
Persons on BoardNot stated for all involved vessels

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date1993-08-10
TimeAbout 05:45 EDT for the first collision; second collision less than one minute later
LocationTampa Bay, Florida, near the Egmont Channel and Mullet Key Channel turn at buoys 19 and 20
RegionUnited States
Fatalities0
Injuries1
Missing0

Key facts

  • BALSA 37 departed Port Manatee at 04:45 for Cartagena with 6,000 metric tons of phosphate products.
  • CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD was pushing B. NO. 155 with No. 6 oil; EDNA ST. PHILLIP assisted after a starboard-engine casualty.
  • SEAFARER/OCEAN 255 was overtaking the BOUCHARD tow with mixed petroleum cargo, including gasoline and Jet-A fuel.
  • OCEAN 255's first tank was ruptured and its cargo ignited after the first collision.
  • B. NO. 155 released about 5,000 barrels of No. 6 oil after the second collision.
  • OCEAN 255 was later a constructive total loss; SEAFARER sustained extensive fire damage.
  • MANATEE recovered eleven SEAFARER survivors. One crewmember suffered second-degree burns, and no other injuries were reported.

Narrative

BALSA 37 departed Port Manatee at 04:45 on 10 August 1993, bound for Cartagena with 6,000 metric tons of phosphate products. Inbound traffic included CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD pushing B. NO. 155 with No. 6 oil and EDNA ST. PHILLIP assisting after a starboard-engine casualty. SEAFARER/OCEAN 255 followed astern with mixed petroleum cargo.

As the inbound tows approached the turn at buoys 19 and 20, SEAFARER/OCEAN 255 began overtaking the slower BOUCHARD tow. BALSA 37 and the two tows had discussed port-to-port meetings, but the SEAFARER master did not communicate the overtaking situation to BALSA 37. The report states that the pilots and operators did not adequately communicate their intentions or query the intentions of the other vessels.

At about 05:45, the BALSA 37 pilot observed a green sidelight crossing the bow and called SEAFARER. The meeting developed into an emergency close to the channel turn. BALSA 37 and the SEAFARER tow both manoeuvred hard to port, and OCEAN 255's starboard bow struck BALSA 37's starboard side at the break of the forecastle. The impact ruptured OCEAN 255's No. 1 starboard tank and ignited its cargo.

Less than one minute later, BALSA 37 struck B. NO. 155 near its No. 1 port cargo tank. About 5,000 barrels of No. 6 oil were released. BALSA 37 later grounded near Egmont Key after water entered both cargo holds and the forepeak. OCEAN 255 grounded near Fort De Soto Park and burned until firefighters extinguished the fire. SEAFARER's crew abandoned into petroleum-contaminated water; MANATEE recovered eleven survivors. One crewmember was treated for second-degree burns and released. The Coast Guard found no other reported injuries or loss of life.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
1993-08-10 04:45BALSA 37 departed Port Manatee.
1993-08-10 before 05:45SEAFARER/OCEAN 255 began overtaking CAPT. FRED BOUCHARD/B. NO. 155 near the channel turn.
1993-08-10 about 05:45OCEAN 255 struck BALSA 37 and its petroleum cargo ignited.
1993-08-10 less than one minute laterBALSA 37 struck B. NO. 155, releasing about 5,000 barrels of No. 6 oil.
1993-08-10 after the collisionsSEAFARER's crew abandoned ship and MANATEE recovered eleven survivors.
1994-11-14The USCG Marine Board report and Commandant's Action were published.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Inadequate communicationConfirmed findingThe apparent cause was failure by the pilots and operators to communicate or query intentions and actions as the vessels approached the turn.
Overtaking in a constrained meeting areaConfirmed findingSEAFARER/OCEAN 255 overtook the BOUCHARD tow while traffic was approaching an important channel turn.
Unclear meeting intentionsConfirmed findingThe agreed port-to-port arrangements did not prevent the vessels from manoeuvring hard to port toward one another.
Close-quarters manoeuvringConfirmed findingThe first collision occurred in extremis, leaving insufficient time for the vessels to recover from conflicting actions.

Investigation

The United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation examined the two collisions and subsequent fire. Its apparent-cause conclusion attributed the casualty to inadequate communication or failure to query intentions by the pilots and operators of the three involved vessels. The report found no contribution from drugs, alcohol, mechanical failure, material failure, or design deficiency. It does not provide a monetary damage estimate in the reviewed Markdown windows.

References