Transportation Safety Board releases findings into July 2014 grounding of the Amakusa Island

The Transportation Safety Board
released its report Monday into
the grounding of the Amakusa Island.
(Photo from TSB website)

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released the details of its investigation into a marine incident in Prince Rupert harbour on July 14th of 2014.

The TSB issued a media release this morning to provide details and recommendations from their report into the incident.

The report released by the Board on Monday morning, notes that unfamiliarity of the route to the anchorage was one of the contributing factors that resulted in the grounding.

As part of the background related to the incident, the Safety Board report outlined the account of events on July 14th, noting that the Amakusa Island had been directed by the Port of Prince Rupert to anchorage position 25.

Location of the grounding of
July 2014

The Amakusa Island had been sent to that location to address some issues regarding the vessel's cargo prior to its journey to Japan.

It was on the way to that anchorage where the string of events unfolded that resulted in the grounding.

From the report the timeline reads as follows:

Neither the master nor the pilot had previously been to that anchorage, which is southwest of the vessel's departure position. The route to the anchorage passed in proximity to a charted shoal that was too shallow for the vessel. 

This shoal was not detected by the bridge team while planning the revised route or while monitoring the vessel's progress. Additionally, the pilot's portable pilotage unit was not configured with all of the available route planning and monitoring features to assist in detecting navigational hazards.

The Amakusa Island in July 2014
at Northland Dock for repairs
(NCR photo)

Following the grounding, the vessel was subsequently re-floated with the rising tide four hours after the incident, and then was brought to port in Prince Rupert for repairs prior to its departure.

In its conclusion to the report, the TSB notes that as a result of the incident, the Canadian Hydrographic Service has now updated the chart used in this occurrence and steps were taken to address the issues of monitoring marine pilots for familiarity of areas under their jurisdiction.

The owners of the vessel also installed an electronic chart display and information system aboard the vessel along with increased training for the ships crew.

You can review the full investigation report from the Transportation Board website here.

Background on the incident from July of 2014 can be found below:

July 24 -- Amakusa Island arrives at Northland Terminal for repair work
July 17 -- Amakusa Island grounding provides Enbridge opponents with a visual aid
July 15 -- Bulk carrier re-floated after running aground in Prince Rupert Harbour

More notes related to Prince Rupert Port Authority items can be found on our archive page.