Name: 2cl Sayson Marino III G.

Section: Betelgeuse.

Read the case and answer the three questions.

April 11, 2022

CASE STUDY – BRIDGE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

INCIDENT
The National Transportation Safety Board completed its investigation of the May 16,
2019, accident involving the double-hulled tanker American Liberty and several moored
vessels, barges and wharfs along the left descending bank of the Lower Mississippi
River from miles 139.5 to 138.7 near Reserve, Louisiana.

One serious and three minor injuries were reported in connection with the accident that
caused a reported $40.5M in damage. No pollution was reported.

“While the NTSB did not issue any safety recommendations in our report, that does not
mean there are not life-saving lessons to be learned from this accident,” said Morgan
Turrell, Acting Director of the NTSB’s Office of Marine Safety. “There could have been a
very different outcome in this accident, and failure to learn from it could cause a similar
and potentially deadly accident to happen.”

The accident happened while the river was at major flood stage with the Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, gage reading 43.6 feet and the Bonnet Carré Spillway at mile 128 reopened
six days before the accident. The current was 6.2 knots.

The American Liberty was on its normal route, loading petroleum cargo at the Marathon
Petroleum Garyville, Louisiana, Dock No. 2, and sailing to Tampa Bay, Florida. There
were 23 crew members aboard.

An Associated Federal Pilots and Docking Masters of Louisiana pilot was aboard the
American Liberty as it prepared to depart Garyville, the evening of May 16. Two assist
tugs were in position – the Josephine Anne and the Vera Bisso. The Josephine Anne,
equipped with twin 4,000 horsepower Z drive propellers, had one line on the port bow of
the American Liberty. The Vera Bisso, equipped with twin 4,200 conventional propellers,
was standing by on the port quarter of the American Liberty with no line on.

The pilot issued rudder and engine commands to the assist tugs from both bridge wings
of the tanker. The tanker’s master relayed the pilot’s helm and engine commands to the
third mate. The third mate on watch operated the engine order telegraph and monitored
rudder orders by watching the rudder angle indicators. An able seaman was the
helmsman.
Investigators found the American Liberty’s Voyage Data Recorder captured the master-
pilot exchange, which both pilot and master told investigators was satisfactory but not
comprehensive. Both told investigators they shared an understanding of how the
undocking maneuver was to be executed, but the exchange did not address how far the
vessel was to be off the dock when the ship was to start turning, when the tugs were to
be let go, or any other precautions that might be necessary in the faster-than-normal
river current. Although the master and pilot expressed current as a known concern and
challenge, the master-pilot exchange did not address challenges or precautions from
the fast current.

The master said everything was normal as they were coming off the wharf, but the
current caught the vessel as they tried to go ahead and they could not gain enough
headway in the river and slow the rate of the turn. The pilot said he did not get the turns
for slow ahead and the current set the vessel toward the wharfs, but he had not looked
at the rpm and rudder angle indicators to verify if his commands were carried out.

QUESTION:

1. State the probable root cause of the accident and why?

The pilot and the master did not address the challenges or precautions of the fast
current

2. Identify the hazards and extend of the damage and state the safety procedures
to avoid accident

They may aground on the coast line

They may collide with other vessels

They might cause oil pollution

3. State the role of the tugs.

Tug boats are the ones that assist the ship in situations that maneuvering is veri difficult. They
ensure that the ship is away form danger. Tug boats lead the ship to the safest route possible.

- They act as salvage boats

- They act as ice breakers
- They carry fire fighting equipment incase of fire
- They move barges, rigsm and other floating equipment that cannot propel themselves
 - They assist boats in narrow areas, in inclement weather, docking or mooring

Rubrics: 10 points

0 4 6 8 10

10- No Needs Adequate Quality Exemplary

point Answer Improvement
items
Answers are Answers are not Answers Answers are
partial or comprehensive are comprehensive,
incomplete. Key or completely accurate accurate and
points are not stated. Key and complete. Key
clear. Question points are complete. ideas are clearly
not adequately addressed, but Key points stated, explained,
answered. not well are stated and well
supported. and supported.
supported.