Failure of fuel supply on tug Luvly Jubbly resulting in grounding of its tow, dumb barge Lond Sands
Location: Weymouth Bay, England.
Completed PE Summary: Luvly Jubbly
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel 1/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel name | Luvly Jubbly (ex Oliver Felix) |
| Registered Owner | Privately owned |
| Type | Tug |
| Built | 1962 |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 28.66m |
| Gross Tonnage | 144 |
| Date/Time | 23 to 24/10/2007, 1349 to 0100 (local time) |
| Location of Incident | West of Isle of Portland and Weymouth Bay |
| Incident Type | Mechanical failure of tug followed by grounding of the barge |
| Persons Onboard | 5 |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | None |
| Merchant Vessel 2/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Unnamed |
| Type | Unmanned dumb barge with 2 spud legs |
| Built | 1962 |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 32.69m |
| Gross Tonnage | 189.64 |
| Date/Time | 23 to 24/10/2007, 1349 to 0100 (local time) |
| Location of Incident | West of Isle of Portland and Weymouth Bay |
| Incident Type | Mechanical failure of tug followed by grounding of the barge |
| Damage/Pollution | Minimal leak of fuel from barge and deck crane |
Synopsis
The tug Luvly Jubbly towing the barge Long Sands, on passage from Cowes to Plymouth, sought shelter from the increasing winds and sea in West Bay. The tug lost power when the fuel supply failed, west of Portland Isle, and they drifted south with the tide. Luvly Jubbly, having regained limited power, was escorted by the RNLI lifeboat into Weymouth Bay where the tug, rafted to the barge, anchored to complete engine repairs and wait for a suitable tidal flow to round Portland Isle. The wind was forecast to back north-easterly and then decrease overnight. During the evening, the wind unexpectedly veered to the south-east and increased, exposing the tug and tow to a lee shore.
As the conditions deteriorated, the mooring lines between the tug and barge started to break and the anchor dragged. The tug skipper transferred to the barge to attempt to re-secure the lines as the barge grounded close to shore. The skipper was returned to Luvly Jubbly by the lifeboat, and attempts to recover the barge were postponed. Overnight, the barge listed and the portable crane fell from the deck, remaining attached to both Long Sands and the seabed, holding the barge in position.
Action taken
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the MCA Chief Executive encouraging him to make every effort to introduce the SCV Code as quickly as possible, and to review the manning requirements for Coded vessels on longer and more complex voyages.
The Chief Inspector has also written to the owner of Luvly Jubbly strongly advising that an additional trained person is employed during towing operations and extended voyages, and to seek to have the tug either Classified or Coded under the SCV Code at the soonest opportunity.
Published: January 2008