Hong Kong: Collision in Suez Canal and safety measures

Eda Zenic -

The Marine Department of the Government of Hong Kong has issued a note 30/2024 about a collision accident that happened in the Suez Canal.

Incident Summary: A Hong Kong-registered liquefied gas carrier collided with a local tugboat during their northbound transit in the Suez Canal. The collision led to the tugboat sinking and the death of a crew member on board. This note aims to inform shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, officers, and crew about the accident and the lessons learned to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Details of the Incident:

Conditions at the Time of the Accident:

  1. The sea was calm.
  2. Visibility was good.
  3. The wind was southwesterly at Beaufort Force 3.

Sequence of Events:

  1. The Hong Kong-registered liquefied gas carrier (the vessel) was transiting northbound through the Suez Canal under the guidance of a pilot.
  2. A local tugboat (the tug) was also transiting northbound ahead of the vessel at a slower speed.
  3. The distance between the vessel and the tug decreased gradually.
  4. A sudden vibration and unusual noise were detected on board the vessel, while the tug was seen heavily listed and half-sunken.
  5. The tugboat eventually sank.
  6. Six crew members of the tug were rescued by local maritime rescue teams, but one crew member was missing. The body of the missing crew member was later found inside the tug.

Investigation Findings: The investigation identified several contributory factors to the accident:

Vessel’s Failures:

  1. Non-compliance with Navigation Rules: The vessel did not maintain a proper lookout as required under the “Rules of Navigation” (RON) and Rule 5 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
  2. Unauthorized Overtaking: The vessel attempted to overtake the tug without authorization from the Suez Canal Authority.
  3. Improper Passage Planning: The vessel’s passage plan for navigating the Suez Canal was not properly planned or fully implemented according to the shipboard Bridge Procedure Manual (BPM).

Tugboat’s Failures:

  1. Lack of Action: The tugboat did not take appropriate action to attract the vessel’s attention or avoid obstructing its passage when slowing down.

Lessons Learned: To avoid similar accidents in the future, the following measures should be noted by ship management companies, masters, officers, and crew members:

Maintain Proper Lookout:

  1. Strictly comply with Rule 5 of the COLREGS to maintain a proper lookout at all times during transit in the Suez Canal to fully appraise the situation and assess collision risks.

Follow Navigation Rules:

  1. Adhere to the RON requirements, including obtaining authorization before overtaking another vessel and stopping when the passage ahead is unclear.

Adhere to Shipboard Procedures:

  1. Comply with the shipboard BPM and the Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code for safe navigation during pilotage, taking appropriate action if there are doubts about the pilot’s actions or intentions.

Proper Passage Planning:

  1. Ensure the passage is properly planned with sufficient awareness of RON requirements and fully implemented, with a focus on monitoring traffic conditions and maintaining a proper lookout.

Attention: The Marine Department emphasizes the importance of these lessons and calls on shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, officers, and crew to implement these practices to enhance navigational safety and prevent future accidents.