CHARLENE HUNT

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Tug crew was ill prepaered - Investigation report on Lyubov Orlova loss released

...regarding the loss of the "Lyubov Orlova" being towed by the "Charlene Hunt". Citing a lack of preparation, bad weather and a mechanical breakdown as three important factors, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) released its investigation report (M13N0001) into the loss in waters off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). On 23 January 2013, bound for the Dominican Republic, the tug departed St. John’s harbor towing the cruise ship "Lyubov Orlova". The tug and tow traveled for approximately 19 hours, until they hit winds estimated at 40 knots and seas of 5 to 6 meters. The heavy weather persisted and, at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Jan 24, the towing arrangement between the tug and tow failed off Cape Race, NL. Throughout the remainder of that day and most of the next day, the "Charlene Hunt" stood by the "Lyubov Orlova" and reported to Marine Communications and Traffic Services regularly. Worsening weather and a mechanical breakdown aboard the "Charlene Hunt" forced the tug to abandon the tow and seek sheltered water near Cape Spear, NL, where the crew began repairs. The tow was not successfully resumed, and the "Lyubov Orlova" was left derelict and adrift in international waters and is presumed sunk. The TSB investigation revealed a number of inadequacies. Chief among them was that the relief master did not adequately prepare to compensate for the environmental conditions that were encountered during the tow. The report observed that available guidelines respecting the design and construction of towing arrangements were not followed, and that the towing arrangement was inadequate for the intended voyage. The TSB investigation also made findings as to risk. In Halifax, Transport Canada (TC) inspected the" Charlene Hunt" and found deficiencies. Repairs were made and the tug proceeded to St. John’s to meet the "Lyubov Orlova". Before the vessel’s departure for the Dominican Republic, TC had requested that the master contact their office in St. John’s upon arrival. The master did not report his arrival and the "Charlene Hunt" departed with the tow. Following the eventual loss of the tow and the vessel’s return to St. John’s, a TC inspection again revealed several deficiencies with the tug. The TSB investigation concluded that had an inspection been undertaken prior to departure, some of these deficiencies would have been identified. Full report: http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/marine/2013/M13N0001/M13N0001.asp

Charlene Hunt left Canada

On June 7, 2013, the ill-fated "Charlene Hunt" which lost the "Lyubov Orlova" and was detained thereafter, finally sailed from St. John's in tow of the tug "Kirsten Grace" and arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 15.

Investigation launched regarding towage desaster

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is formally investigating the failure of the "Charlene Hunt" that sent the cruise ship "Lyubov Orlova" adrift in the North Atlantic. The "Charlene Hunt" has been detained pending a long list of repairs that followed a shorter list ordered last fall after it had mechanical issues en route to Halifax. Many observers have questioned why the tug was ever allowed to haul the cruise ship from the St. John's harbour at one of the stormiest times of the year. Board investigators are gathering witness accounts and other details for a report that will be released in about a year. Investigators spoke to the co-owner of the "Lyubov Orlova" and the crew of the tug. There had not yet been a commitment for a formal probe of what went wrong when the tow line snapped in rough seas on Jan 24. Regarding the fate of the lost cruise ship, the Canadian Coast Guard has not received any updated positional information on it since Feb 4. Mariners have been asked to report any sightings of the vessel. Coast Guard officials warned them about the derelict ship by notifying the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in the U.S.A. A message was also sent through a satellite-based service that would have reached all vessels within 1,600 kilometres of the "Lyubov Orlova". Co-owner Reza Shoeybi said he's still hoping to catch the vessel and sell it for scrap with help from a salvager on the other side of the Atlantic. He and his partners had hoped to make $700,000 to $800,000 in the Dominican Republic, depending on metals markets. He stated he was being in touch with one person that's based out of Ireland and hoping to come up with something and go and retrieve the cruise ship.