Zodiac Maritime limited

Portman House
2 Portman Street
London

Report dated 21 JANUARY 2022

MT BLUE NOVA
MALFUNCTION OF STARBOARD HOSE HANDLING CRANE.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 2
SHIPS PARTICULARS................................................................................................................. 2
VESSEL MANNING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT ................................................................ 3
KEY PERSONNEL DURING THE INCIDENT……………..………………………………………………………….… 3
NARRATIVE .............................................................................................................................. 4
REPORTING ............................................................................................................................. 4
INVESTIGATION ....................................................................................................................... 5
IMMEDIATE CAUSE ................................................................................................................. 6
BASIC ROOT CAUSE ................................................................................................................. 6
NON CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS .............................................................................................. 6
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ............................................................................................................. 6
PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS AND MEASURES ............................................................................. 7

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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
2 Portman Street
London
INTRODUCTION
Vessel on voyage no. 15L, loaded with Egina Crude oil was scheduled for discharging at
SPM-Canaport, Canada.

On 18th Jan 2022, whilst approaching the SPM, vessel commenced heaving SPM tool box from the
tug, during which hoisting speed of Hose handling crane runner was noticed to be slower than
designed.

Consequently, berthing was aborted, and vessel was shifted to anchorage for further investigation.

Attendance from Crane Maker’s approved service technician was arranged for detailed
assessment of the hose handling crane. During planned attendance, internal leak in hoisting
control valve was identified and subject valve was replaced with a spare to restore normal
operation.

Subsequently, vessel safely berthed at SBM at Canaport for planned discharge operations.

SHIPS PARTICULARS

Name: Blue Nova

Type: Oil Tanker
Technical Manager: Zodiac Maritime Limited
Flag: Liberia
Class: Lloyd’s Register
IMO Number: 9534846
Built: 31st Aug 2011
Delivered to principals: 21st Aug 2017

Tonnages:
Gross: 157225
Net: 98981
Summer DWT: 297085 MT @ 21.50 m

Dimensions:
Length O.A: 330.00 m
Length B.P: 316.00 m
Breadth: 60.00 m
Depth: 29.70 m

Machinery:
M/E: Number & Type: 1 x MAN B&W 7S80MC X 1SET.
Power: MCR: 25,480 Kw @ 79 RPM, NCR: 22,940 Kw @ 76.3 RPM
Bow Thruster: None

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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
2 Portman Street
London

VESSEL MANNING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT

The vessel was manned with 27 crew members at the time as follows:

Master + 3 Deck Officers + 1 Deck Cadet

Chief Engineer + 3 Watch Keeping Engineer Officers + T3E+Eng Cadet
Electrician + Electrical Cadet + 2 Eng trainees
Bosun + Pump man + 3 A/B + 2 O/S
2 Motor Man
Fitter
Chief Cook + Steward

KEY PERSONNEL DURING THE INCIDENT

Deck Officer complement:

Master – 21.4 years with Operator, 1.0 years in rank, 10.6 years on tankers.
Chief Officer – 0.4 years with Operator, 2.7 years in rank, 11.4 years on tankers.
Second Officer – 14.1 years with Operator, 4.1 years in rank, 7.5 years on tankers.
Third Officer – 3.2 years with Operator, 0.5 years in rank, 1.9 years on tankers.

Engineering Officer complement:

Chief Engineer – 15.5 years with Operator, 3.0 in rank, 10.1 years on tankers.
1st Engineer – 12.7 years with Operator, 1.4 years in rank, 7.0 years on tankers.
2ndEngineer – 9.6 years with Operator, 1.4 years in rank and 5.2 years on tankers.
3rdEngineer – 2.9 years with Operator, 0.5 years in rank and 1.2 years on tankers.

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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
2 Portman Street
London
NARRATIVE

On 17th Jan 2022

At 1530LT: Vessel anchored at Saint John’s Anchorage, awaiting berthing at SBM Canaport,
Canada.

On 18th Jan 2022

At 1824LT: Pilot boarded the vessel for berthing at SBM. Vessels Hose handling crane was tested in
Idle condition as a part of Pre-berthing checks.

At 1906LT: Mooring gang and mooring master boarded the vessel.

At 1924LT: Terminal inspection completed, during which crane was tested and confirmed to be
working satisfactorily.

At 1930LT: Vessels commenced picking up SPM toolboxes (2 Pcs picked, one at a time).
At 1954LT: SPM toolboxes onboard.

During hoisting the speed of the runner was noticed to be slower than designed.

Consequently, berthing at SBM was aborted and vessel was shifted to the anchorage for further
investigation.

At 2100LT: Pilots and mooring gang disembarked.

On 19th Jan 2022

At 1448LT: Shore technician boarded the vessel for detailed investigation of crane malfunction.

During planned attendance, internal leak in hoisting control valve was identified by technicians
and the hoisting control valve was replaced with a spare to restore normal operation.

On 21st Jan 2022

At 1110LT: Normal working of the crane was restored. Subsequently, occasional survey from
vessel’s Classification society (LRS) was completed remotely.

On 25th Jan 2022

At 0148LT: Vessel safely moored to SPM buoy.

On 26th Jan 2022

1600LT: Vessel safely completed discharging.
1900Lt: Vessel departed the port.

REPORTING:
The vessel reported the subject failure to the DPA and Technical Manager.
The vessel made the requisite reports to the designated Charterers and port authorities.
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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
2 Portman Street
London

INVESTIGATION

Prior arrival Canaport, requisite cold weather precautions checks were completed in accordance
with existing QMS procedures.

Further, Hose handling crane was satisfactorily tested and found to be in good working condition.

In accordance with Maker’s guidance for operating the cranes below (-)10°C, the oil temperature
is required to be raised to (+)10°C prior being put in use. Basis same, crane is required to be kept
running in idle condition, to increase the temperature of the oil accordingly up to (+)10°C, prior to
the crane being put in use.

At the time of incident, the ambient weather temperature was around (-)15°C.

Detailed investigation undertaken inferred that ship’s staff had satisfactorily tested the crane,
prior berthing though on completion of planned test, crane power was turned off instead of crane
being run in idle conditions, as recommended by makers.

This occasioned in lowering of hydraulic oil temperature to sub-zero temperature, thereby causing
an increase in viscosity.

Plausibility of minor levels of water content in oil, which would have frozen at such low
temperatures, could have resulted in internal leak of the hoist winch control valve, while crane
was subjected to load.

Additional information:
The subject vessel is fitted with two hydraulic midship hose handling crane with SWL of 20Tons,
with independent hydraulic oil tanks.

Managers confirms that hose handling cranes onboard undergo regular maintenance / inspections
schedules as per approved Planned Maintenance System (PMS), compiled in accordance with
Maker’s recommendation.

Vessel completed dry dock in month of May 2021, during which thorough inspection and extensive
overhaul of the cranes was undertaken by makers approved service engineers.

NON-CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS
The work/ rest hours have been verified and fatigue is not a contributary factor in the incident.

Review of periodic oil analysis results was carried out, and oil analysis was found to be within
limits and suitable for use.

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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
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IMMEDIATE ROOT CAUSE:

- Equipment Failure: Hydraulic control valve for hoisting circuit was found with internal leak.

ROOT CAUSES:

- Ineffective implementation of existing SMS procedures on cold weather precautions and

Maker’s guidance.
Prior berthing, crane was tested in idle condition satisfactorily, however during transit from
anchorage to SPM, crane was kept switched off. This occasioned in lowering of hydraulic oil
temperature to sub-zero thereby causing an increase in viscosity.

- Review of existing cold weather procedures:

Present QMS provides guidance on for testing and operation of hydraulic system / equipment in
cold weather, however a need to review existing cold weather precautions was identified.

NON-CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS
The work/ rest hours have been verified and fatigue is not a contributary factor in the incident.

Review of periodic oil analysis results was carried out, and oil analysis was found to be within
limits and suitable for use.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:
 Shore service Technician was arranged for detailed assessment and repairs.
 Partial oil was drained and renewed.
 Requisite leaking control valve was replaced.
 Occasional Class survey was undertaken and normal working of the crane was accredited.
 Extensive testing of crane was carried prior berthing.

DOCUMENTS ATTACHED
 Shore service Technician service report.
 Occasional Class survey attendance report.

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Zodiac Maritime
Limited
 Zodiac Maritime limited
Portman House
2 Portman Street
London

PREVENTIVE ACTION

Actions / Measures Department Date

Responsible Completed
1. A Meeting was convened by Master and the findings were Vessel Completed
discussed with the ship’s staff for their continued 21st Jan’22.
awareness.
The training session for Ship’s staff was undertaken during
which importance of effective compliance with QMS
guidance and Maker’s for using Hydraulic equipment in
cold weather conditions were reiterated.

3. Review of Cold weather precautions procedures will be Technical / Expected End

carried out and more detailed guidance will be included for Vetting Feb 22.
the ship’s staff to avoid re-occurrence.
4. Learning from the incident: incident investigation will be Technical / Expected End
circulated to vessels to avoid re-occurrence. Vetting Feb 22.

INVESTIGATION CARRIED OUT AND REPORT PREPARED BY:

Kamen Kiranov - Technical Superintendent
Abhishek Thakur – Vetting & Compliance Manager

REPORT REVIEWED BY:

Tom Mihalea Stuart Robertson: Vlachos Konstantinos Vivek Quadros
Fleet GM Technical Fleet GM Operations Director of Technical Head OF QSHE

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Zodiac Maritime
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