The Yueda2: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

The Transportation Safety Board has disclosed that a lack of familiarity with the navigational route was the primary cause behind the grounding of the bulk carrier Amakusa Island on July 14, 2022, outside Prince Rupert, British Columbia. This finding was part of an investigation report released on Monday. The incident occurred when the charterer instructed the vessel's master to anchor prior to its journey to Japan, directing it towards anchorage 25. Unfortunately, both the ship's master and the pilot on board were unacquainted with this particular route, which passed dangerously close to a charted shoal that was too shallow for the Amakusa Island to navigate safely. During the planning phase, the bridge team failed to identify the potential hazard, and the portable pilotage unit lacked the essential features necessary for thorough route planning and hazard monitoring. This oversight led to the vessel’s grounding, compromising its hull and causing it to take on water while it was carrying 80,000 metric tonnes of coal. In response to the incident, the Canadian Hydrographic Service has updated maritime charts to improve navigational safety in the area. Additionally, BC Coast Pilots Ltd and the Pacific Pilotage Authority are implementing new measures requiring pilots to undergo mandatory performance assessments every five years to ensure they remain proficient and familiar with their operational areas. The management team of the Amakusa Island has also taken proactive steps by equipping the vessel with an electronic chart display and information system, along with enhancing crew training to prevent future occurrences. Following the grounding, the crew effectively closed the ship's watertight bulkheads to contain the flooding. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of route familiarization and effective navigation practices in the maritime industry.

The Amakusa Island, a bulk carrier that ran aground in Prince Rupert's outer harbour on Monday night, is currently facing an uncertain fate. According to Michael Gurney, the manager of corporate communications at the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the vessel, laden with 80,000 metric tonnes of coal, has sustained damage to its hull leading to water ingress. Gurney stated, "While we are unsure about the exact volume of water taken on, two buoyancy compartments were compromised, triggering water-tight bulkheads to close and preventing further water entry into the ship." Investigations are underway, with teams from the Transportation Safety Board arriving on-site to assess the situation, and divers dispatched to examine the hull's condition. The critical decision regarding whether to repair the ship on-site or to manage the water evacuation at one of the berths will be made based on the findings. At present, no timeline for repairs has been established; however, Gurney confirmed that the Amakusa Island will not leave Prince Rupert in its current compromised state. The incident occurred as the vessel was transitioning from its berth at Ridley Terminals to its designated anchorage shortly after 10 p.m. on July 12, eventually becoming grounded. Response teams, including the Canadian Coast Guard and the Prince Rupert Port Authority Security Operations Centre, worked in conjunction with additional port partners to rectify the situation. By about 2:30 a.m., SMIT Marine tugs successfully released the vessel, which then made its way to anchorage under its own power, accompanied by tugs and a port authority harbour patrol boat. Thankfully, despite the ship's obvious listing while aground, no injuries or environmental contamination have been reported. The Prince Rupert Port Authority continues to oversee the situation closely, and a dedicated team from the Transportation Safety Board is actively investigating the grounding incident.

The recent grounding incident involving the bulk carrier Amakusa Island, a 228-meter vessel, has brought significant attention to the potential dangers of increased tanker traffic along the North Coast, according to environmentalists and First Nations representatives. On Monday night, the ship ran aground in the outer harbour of Prince Rupert while navigating to an assigned anchorage after departing from the Ridley Terminals coal terminal. This mishap resulted in a significant breach in the vessel's hull and compromised two ballast tanks, which could have serious implications for the environment. The exact circumstances surrounding the grounding are still being investigated; however, Art Sterritt, executive director of Coastal First Nations, noted that the weather conditions at the time were exceptionally favorable. He emphasized the unpredictability of human error in maritime operations, indicating that despite advanced technology and skilled pilots, mistakes are inevitable. "No matter how good your pilots are or what kind of technology you employ, human fallibility remains a significant risk in maritime navigation," Sterritt pointed out. Enbridge, the company behind the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline, has touted the safety of oil tankers being guided by local pilots well-acquainted with the coastal waters. However, it’s important to highlight that a licensed B.C. pilot was aboard the Amakusa Island when it encountered trouble. Despite the high caliber of British Columbia’s pilots, they cannot eliminate the possibility of accidents, as noted by Brian Falconer, marine operations coordinator for the Raincoast Conservation Society, who remarked on the limitations of even the most skilled mariners.