Discover the Msc-Dymphna: Ratings & Maritime News

On November 30, 2017, a tragic incident occurred at the container terminal of Opcsa in Puerto de La Luz, Las Palmas. A 59-year-old Indian cook, identified as Ashok M. B., fell overboard from the 'MSC Dymphna' at approximately 10:40 a.m. The unfortunate accident took place while he was disposing of garbage. In a series of catastrophic moments, Ashok hit the pier before plunging into the sea, rendering him unconscious. Quick to respond, fellow crew members jumped in after him and managed to recover him within 15 minutes. However, he was already in a state of cardiorespiratory arrest. Emergency medical assistance arrived promptly, with a private ambulance first on the scene, commencing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts. The Canarias Emergency Service (SUC) took over shortly after, continuing with advanced resuscitation procedures. Sadly, their efforts were in vain, and the attending physician ultimately declared Ashok M. B. deceased. The cause of death will be determined following an autopsy. At the time of the incident, the 'MSC Dymphna' had arrived in Las Palmas earlier that morning and was set to depart for San Pedro in Ivory Coast, with an estimated time of arrival on December 5. For further details and photos of the event, you can read the full Spanish report here: http://www.laprovincia.es/sucesos/2017/12/01/cocinero-barco-fallece-caer-borda/1003873.html.

British maritime accident investigators have condemned the actions of a Japanese shipowner for obstructing the inquiry into the 2011 collision between the "ACX Hibiscus" and the "Hyundai Discovery." This incident, which occurred in the eastern approaches to the Singapore Strait under poor visibility conditions, led to significant damage to both vessels. Following the collision, the Panama Maritime Authority designated the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to lead the investigation, as the "Hyundai Discovery" was under UK flag and operated by Zodiac Maritime. However, representatives for the owners of the "ACX Hibiscus" denied MAIB inspectors access to their vessel in Singapore, claiming jurisdictional restrictions. This obstruction caused a temporary halt to the investigation, further complicating the situation. Disturbingly, the legal counsel for "ACX Hibiscus" also instructed the PMA investigator to sign a declaration to withhold evidence from the MAIB, including crucial witness testimonies and Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) information. The denial of access to evidence has severely hindered the investigation's ability to address critical safety issues surrounding the incident. Consequently, the MAIB's report has been forced to prioritize recommendations for avoiding future encounters with non-compliant vessels rather than thoroughly examining the root causes of the accident. The collision, which occurred when both vessels' officers reacted too late to an oncoming threat, shed light on significant lapses in adherence to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs). In particular, the chief officer of the "ACX Hibiscus," unaware of the course and position of the "Hyundai Discovery," made the ill-timed decision to alter course northward without confirming safe navigation, despite numerous radio warnings from the "Hyundai Discovery." The conclusion drawn by the PMA indicated that the chief officer's judgment was compromised by fatigue, posing the crucial question of why he opted to navigate into a busy traffic route under such risky circumstances. Nevertheless, the PCMA's finding regarding fatigue lacked sufficient substantiation, as it only referenced the officer's recent hours of work. Ultimately, the "ACX Hibiscus" suffered total loss and was subsequently scrapped in India, raising concerns about compliance with the International Maritime Organisation’s Casualty Investigation Code and revealing weaknesses in ensuring accountability in maritime safety practices.