Classification
- Incident type: Collision
- Severity: Medium
- Region: Germany
- Investigation body: Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU)
Vessel Details
| Vessel | Type | Flag | IMO | Gross tonnage | LOA (m) | Breadth (m) | Year built | Crew/manning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WES JANINE | Container | Antigua and Barbuda [AG] | 9504073 | 10585 | 151.72 | 23.40 | 2012 | 15 |
| STENBERG | Chemical tanker | Gibraltar [GI] | 9283978 | 11935 | 144.05 | 23.15 | 2003 | 16 |
WES JANINE was operated by Wessels Reederei GmbH & Co KG. The report names LUCHS, WOLF, and TAUCHER OTTO WULF 3 as assisting vessels but does not provide their particulars in the reviewed extract.
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2014-01-16 |
| Reported casualty time | 0527 CET |
| Collision time | 0604 CET |
| Location | Nordwest-Reede anchorage off Brunsbuettel, Elbe River |
| Coordinates | 53.881667, 9.098167 |
| Region | Germany |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Key facts
- WES JANINE anchored at about 0200 while waiting for Kiel Canal lock operations and began to drift at about 0450 during the falling tide.
- The vessels collided at 0604 after STENBERG's anchor cable became involved with WES JANINE's screw.
- WES JANINE suffered screw damage, loss of manoeuvrability, minor damage to three containers, and dented shell plating. STENBERG lost its starboard anchor and chain and had paint abrasion on the bow.
- The BSU report states that no one was killed or injured and that no environmentally hazardous substances escaped. It does not list a separate missing-person field.
Narrative
WES JANINE arrived off Brunsbuettel at about 0145 on 16 January 2014 and anchored in the Nordwest-Reede anchorage at about 0200, using the port anchor with three lengths of cable. The ship was waiting because access to the Kiel Canal locks was restricted. STENBERG and RIJNBORG were already in the anchorage, leaving WES JANINE between the two vessels. The pilot remained on the bridge while the tidal swing appeared stable and left after briefing the officer responsible for the navigational watch.
At about 0450, WES JANINE began to drift. The BSU found that the drift was visible on radar, but no effective action was taken at that stage. At 0518, the officer called the pilot back to the bridge when WES JANINE was about 80 m from STENBERG. The main engine was started at 052750, then stopped after engine-room personnel heard noises from the screw area. The tug LUCHS made fast and attempted to pull WES JANINE clear, but STENBERG's anchor cable restricted the stern and the tug could not hold the ship against the current.
The vessels collided at 0604. STENBERG slipped its starboard anchor cable at 0616. WOLF later took the forward tug position while LUCHS shifted aft, and WES JANINE was anchored in the Neufeld-Reede Ost anchorage. TAUCHER OTTO WULF 3 subsequently made fast alongside for diver work. A diver found STENBERG's chain wrapped several times around WES JANINE's screw.
Sequence of events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| About 01:45 | WES JANINE arrived off Brunsbuettel. |
| About 02:00 | WES JANINE anchored in the Nordwest-Reede anchorage. |
| About 04:50 | WES JANINE began to drift. |
| 05:18 | The pilot was called back to the bridge when the vessels were about 80 m apart. |
| 05:27:50 | WES JANINE's main engine was started and later stopped after noises were heard from the screw area. |
| 06:04 | WES JANINE and STENBERG collided. |
| 06:16 | STENBERG slipped its starboard anchor cable. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Watchkeeping | Confirmed finding | The BSU identified the manner in which the watch was performed on both vessels as the principal cause. |
| Anchor-drag monitoring | Confirmed finding | WES JANINE did not use its GPS anchor alarm, and the visible radar drift did not lead to effective action in time. |
| Anchorage and bridge-team management | Confirmed finding | The report discusses the non-ideal anchorage choice and shortcomings in bridge-team management and lookout arrangements. |
Investigation
BSU Investigation Report 36/14 is the primary source. It records the casualty sequence, damage, casualty totals, and conclusions based on VDR, radar, vessel records, and interviews. The report gives no financial damage estimate and does not state a separate missing-person total.
References
- BSU Investigation Report 36/14
- SRC-MSIG-088: BSU report source note