News story

Svitzer Mercurius report published

Tug towing pennant failure while assisting a berthing operation in Southampton, England, resulting in damage to its wheelhouse windows and injuries to its crew.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 22 December 2022

Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the sudden parting of the towing pennant on the tug Svitzer Mercurius on 22 December 2019. The failed pennant and towline recoiled back towards the tug, shattering one of its forward wheelhouse windows and damaging three others. The five crew members inside the wheelhouse sustained multiple minor lacerations requiring hospital treatment.

The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations.

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Published 22 December 2022