Shift of cargo containers, including dangerous goods, on general cargo vessel Dutch Navigator during heavy weather

Location: On passage from Bilbao, Spain to Avonmouth, England.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 23 January 2015

• Vessel type: Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over
• Report type: Investigation report
• Date of occurrence: 25 April 2001

Accident Investigation Report 37/2002

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened and actions taken:

dutch-navigator.pdf (714.77 kb)

Summary

While on passage from Bilbao, Spain to Avonmouth, UK, between 25 and 26 April 2001 the 2999 gt Netherlands-registered vessel Dutch Navigator encountered poor weather conditions. This resulted in a shift of nine cargo container units in the foremost bay of the hold, Bay 1. Two of the units were tank containers, each holding 20 to 22 tonnes of incompatible dangerous goods.

Safety Issues

• masses of each of the three stacks of containers in Bay 1 exceeded the limits set out in the vessel’s cargo securing manual
• both of the tank containers were overstowed which is not in compliance with the International Maritime Goods Code and UK regulations
• absence for reporting requirements for vessels entering Avonmouth with a shift of cargo involving dangerous goods

Recommendations

Recommendations have been made to multiple organisations as a result of this accident investigation.

This report was published in November 2002.

Published 23 January 2015