Discover the Bbc-Africa: Ratings & Maritime News

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has completed its investigation into a notable maritime incident that occurred on August 25, 2023, within the Houston Ship Channel. The bulk carrier 'BBC Africa', departing from Houston, Texas, experienced a sudden loss of steering control, causing it to veer off course and collide with the docked bulk carrier 'Common Faith' (IMO: 9610092) at the Anderson Grain Terminal. The collision inflicted significant damage, with repairs costing $467,000 for the 'Common Faith', which suffered puncture damage to its post ballast tank and shell plating. In contrast, the 'BBC Africa' sustained injuries to its bulbous bow, hull, shell plating, and forward bulwarks, leading to repair expenses amounting to $700,000. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any injuries or pollution. The NTSB employed Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and crew interviews to reconstruct the sequence of events. Although the voyage data recorder (VDR) aboard 'BBC Africa' was non-operational, the vessel was cleared for departure while repairs were in progress. On the morning of the incident, pre-departure testing indicated no issues with the steering system. The 2nd officer carried out an inspection of the steering gear, verified rudder movements, and operated the steering gear pumps, while engineering staff completed the requisite pre-departure checklist. The master of the vessel tested the steering from the port bridge wing and assured the pilot on board that the systems were functioning properly. Approximately ten minutes after departure, the vessel achieved a speed of 6.8 knots and was traveling smoothly. At that stage, the pilot released the escort tug, and control of maneuvering systems was transitioned from the port bridge wing to the main bridge control station. The chief officer activated the controls, but when the pilot requested a turn to starboard, the helmsman noted that the vessel failed to respond as expected. The pilot ordered increased rudder adjustments until it became apparent to the chief officer that the main control station's indicator light had turned off. Attempts to reactivate the controls proved futile, as the rudder indicator displayed a hard port position of 30 degrees. The master then switched to emergency override, successfully restoring the rudder to 30 degrees starboard. As the pilot commanded a full astern maneuver and the master engaged the bow thruster at full starboard power, it became too late to avert the impending collision with the docked bulk carrier. Investigators were unable to reproduce the steering failure but worked with the system manufacturer to identify that a component malfunction had caused the steering system's failure. Their assessment noted that the rubber on the joystick (tiller) contained undetectable cracks that allowed moisture to infiltrate the control unit, thus disrupting the electrical signal. Consequently, the shipping company, following the manufacturer's advice, replaced the bridge wing steering control tillers, the 'in command' push buttons, and the main power supply transformer, applying the same modifications to two other vessels with analogous control systems. While the report pinpointed equipment failure as the primary cause, it also highlighted the stressful environment of operating within port confines and the crew's delayed response to emergency steering procedures as contributing factors in the vessel striking 'Common Faith'. The NTSB also emphasized the need for enhanced training and issued a recommendation to address this issue. In addition, a safety bulletin from the steering gear manufacturer pointed to similar incidents arising from flaws in systems manufactured between 2002 and 2009, detailing issues linked to weak rubber components and micro switches that could induce unintended rudder movement.