INTERIM REPORT SINKING OF THE VESSEL BOURBON RHODE ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2019 DATE OF ISSUE: 15 April 2021 The information in this interim safety investigation report is subject to change and may contain errors. It will be supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation. ADMINISTRATION OF TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS CIVIL AVIATION – RAILWAYS – MARITIME – RIVER – ROAD Ministry of Mobility and Public Works Department of mobility and transports Administration of Technical Investigations Report N° AET/TM-2021/01 INTERIM REPORT Sinking of the vessel Bourbon Rhode on 26 September 2019 The information in this interim safety investigation report is subject to change and may contain errors. It will be supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation. Administration des enquêtes techniques (AET) B.P. 1388 L-1013 Luxembourg Tél: +352 247-84403 Fax: +352 247-94404 Email: [email protected] Web: https://aet.gouvernement.lu/ 1 | Page FOREWORD In accordance with Directive 2009/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector and Luxembourg amended law dated 30 April 2008 on technical investigations in relation to accidents and serious incidents which occurred in the domains of civil aviation, maritime transport, railways and vehicle traffic on public roads, it is not the purpose of the maritime accident investigation to apportion blame or liability. The sole objective of the safety investigation and the Final Report is the prevention of accidents and incidents. Consequently, the use of this interim report for purposes other than accident prevention may lead to wrong interpretations. Note 1: All times indicated in this report are in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), unless stated otherwise. Note 2: The reference coordinate system used in this report is WGS 84, unless stated otherwise. Cover photo: Source – Bourbon Marine & Logistics 2 | Page CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ............................................ 6 1. SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 8 2. FACTUAL INFORMATION ................................................................................ 9 ORGANISATION OF THE INVESTIGATION ............................................... 9 SHIP PARTICULARS ................................................................................. 10 VOYAGE PARTICULARS .......................................................................... 11 MARINE CASUALTY OR INCIDENT INFORMATION ............................... 12 Accident details .................................................................................. 12 Environmental summary .................................................................... 12 SHORE AUTHORITY INVOLVEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE . 13 INFORMATION COLLECTED DURING THE INVESTIGATION ................ 14 3. NARRATIVE .................................................................................................... 15 FACTUAL TIMELINE ................................................................................. 17 VESSEL ..................................................................................................... 21 Vessel design .................................................................................... 21 Watertight compartments......................................................................................... 22 Z-Drive compartment ............................................................................................... 23 Aspects related to the vessel design ....................................................................... 25 Z-Drive failure modes in case of flooding ................................................................ 26 General arrangement plan ................................................................. 27 Communication equipment ................................................................ 29 Mandatory communication equipment ..................................................................... 29 Communication equipment of the Bourbon Rhode ................................................. 30 Shark Jaws and towing pins .............................................................. 34 Design of the Shark Jaws and towing pins .............................................................. 34 Maintenance of the Shark Jaws and towing pins .................................................... 37 Issues related to the Shark Jaws inspection covers ................................................ 38 Jaw plate covers ...................................................................................................... 42 Watertightness issues related to other anchor handling systems ........................... 43 Bilge pump system ............................................................................ 44 Design of the bilge pump system ............................................................................ 44 Maintenance of the bilge pumps .............................................................................. 44 Nuisance alarms related to the bilge pumps ........................................................... 45 Noris Alarm System ........................................................................... 45 Design of the Noris Alarm System ........................................................................... 45 Maintenance of the Noris Alarm System ................................................................. 46 Issues with the Noris Alarm System ........................................................................ 46 3 | Page FUELTRAX system ............................................................................ 47 Lifesaving appliances ........................................................................ 49 Works performed at the shipyard in Las Palmas ............................... 50 Certificate of classification and surveys of the Bourbon Rhode ......... 51 Load Line survey ................................................................................................. 53 Other relevant items surveyed ............................................................................. 55 Annual Survey – Rules of the Classification of Steel Ships ................................ 56 Liquid bulk and consumption ............................................................. 57 TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATION OF THE CREW .......... 58 Crew experience and certification ...................................................... 58 PASSAGE PLAN ........................................................................................ 60 ENVIRONMENTAL DETAILS .................................................................... 61 Weather forecasts and navigational warnings ................................... 61 METAREA II bulletins issued by METEO-France ................................................... 61 HSFAT2 bulletins issued by the National Hurricane Centre Miami ......................... 63 Weather observations ........................................................................ 75 Hurricane Lorenzo track predictions .................................................. 77 VESSEL’S SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (SMS) .............................. 79 Passage planning and manoeuvring procedure................................. 80 Navigation and Watch keeping Procedure - Open seaways navigation ........................................................................................................ 81 Navigation and Watch keeping Procedure - Adverse/Heavy weather 82 Fuel Consumption Procedure ............................................................ 83 Vessel Daily Report ........................................................................... 84 BAREBOAT CHARTERER’S FLEET MONITORING ................................. 86 FLOODING CALCULATIONS .................................................................... 86 ASPECTS RELATED TO SEARCH AND RESCUE ................................... 86 SURVIVOR STATEMENTS ....................................................................... 86 Written statements ............................................................................. 86 Interviews made by the AET .............................................................. 86 Summary of the statements ............................................................... 86 SEQUENCE OF EVENTS .......................................................................... 88 Vessel transit ..................................................................................... 88 17 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 88 18 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 88 19 – 20 September 2019 ..................................................................................... 88 21 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 88 22 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 89 23 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 89 24 September 2019 ............................................................................................. 89 4 | Page 25 September 2019