The Sfl-Thelon: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a marine accident brief detailing a significant allision involving the tanker 'Atina', which occurred on October 17, 2020, near Pilottown, Louisiana. According to the Marine Accident Brief 21/24, issued on November 22, 2021, the company's decision to replace the vessel’s master without an effective handover period resulted in an estimated $72.9 million in damages. On the day of the incident, the 'Atina' was manned by a crew of 21 and was in the process of anchoring in the Southwest Pass Fairway Anchorage when it collided with the SP-57B oil and gas production platform. Fortunately, the platform's four crew members and an on-site technician were evacuated via helicopter after they activated the emergency shutdown system to secure the wells. Thankfully, there were no injuries or pollution resulting from the accident. The assessed damages included $72.3 million to the SP-57B platform and approximately $598,400 to the 'Atina', culminating in a total financial impact of $72.9 million. The NTSB's investigation revealed that the company's failure to adhere to its own Safety Management System (SMS) contributed to the accident. The master who was on duty had only briefly seen the outgoing master on the deck before being thrust into critical operations, such as nighttime navigation and anchoring, with no prior overlap for effective handover. According to the SMS, a minimum turnover period of one day is required when a senior personnel transition occurs within the company, and up to seven days for new hires. The accident master's fatigue was exacerbated by his extensive travel from Turkey, leaving him sleep-deprived for over 50 hours. Additionally, the chosen anchorage site was approximately 0.7 miles from the SP-57B platform, whereas the approved passage plan designated a location 3.2 miles northeast of the platform. The investigation concluded that inadequate handoff time for the master resulted in acute fatigue and poor situational awareness, which ultimately led to the allision. For more information, you can read the full report here: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAB2124.pdf

Cox Operating LLC, a prominent offshore drilling firm based in the USA, has filed a lawsuit against the Turkish management of the tanker 'Atina,' following a collision with one of its oil platforms on October 17, 2020. The company is seeking a staggering $225 million in damages, citing extensive harm to the platform and significant operational losses, as the facility was rendered inoperative post-incident, necessitating the evacuation of personnel. The incident occurred shortly after the 'Atina' had navigated past the East Pilot Station in the Mississippi Delta, where it was anchored in the Gulf of Mexico. Reports indicate that the vessel began to drift while at anchor, ultimately striking a corner of the oil platform. After the collision, the tanker re-anchored nearby before proceeding to Galveston Anchorage, where it was detained in position 28° 43.72' N 093° 57.11' W, following a ruling from the court. The tanker had departed from Baton Rouge the day prior, on October 16, 2020.

On November 12, 2018, the oil tanker 'Atina' experienced a significant engine failure while navigating through the central Aegean Sea, precisely at coordinates 36°39.0'N 26°36.5'E. In response to the emergency, two tugboats were dispatched to secure the vessel and initiated a tow towards the southern entrance of the Canakkale Strait. After successfully navigating through the strait, the 'Atina' reached Elefsis on November 29, arriving at 10:45 a.m. Following repairs and assessments, the tanker departed Elefsis once again on January 8 at 3:45 p.m. Before resuming its operations, the vessel anchored at position 37°21.74'N 023°48.83'E, remaining stationary at this location until January 14.