Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Zarga

In a significant move to enhance maritime safety, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released a vital safety bulletin in response to a severe incident involving the tanker "Zarga". In March 2015, a deck officer suffered a serious head injury when a mooring line snapped during the vessel's docking at the South Hook LNG Terminal in Milford Haven, leading to emergency airlifting for life-saving surgical intervention. During the investigation, it was found that while the potential hazards of snapback had been recognized in the ship's risk assessment protocols, critical danger zones on the deck were not adequately marked, putting crew members at risk. The MAIB undertook a comprehensive series of tests and trials to analyze the elongation and snapback characteristics of various mooring lines. Key findings included: • The danger posed by snapback is substantially increased when attaching synthetic tails to Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMPE), High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE), and wire mooring lines, due to the added elasticity. • Elongation varies directly with the length of the tail; longer tails lead to increased elongation and energy potential when under tension. • It is imperative for ship owners and operators to select appropriate types of mooring lines and tails for their operations while fully considering the risks associated with snapback incidents. The MAIB's proactive approach aims to prevent similar accidents in the future, urging increased awareness and improved safety measures within the maritime community.

On October 26, 2014, the Portuguese Air Force conducted a critical medevac of a 50-year-old Filipino crew member aboard the oil tanker 'Zarga'. The emergency intervention took place approximately 60 nautical miles west of Figueira da Foz, situated north of Lisbon. The crew member exhibited alarming symptoms consistent with a heart attack, prompting the swift response of the air rescue team. Following the successful evacuation, the patient was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care, while the 'Zarga' resumed its journey unabated.