CMA CGM BIANCA

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Report: Unforecasted winds caused ship to break away

Severe, unforecasted winds caused the 'CMA CGM Bianca' to break away from the pier and damaging equipment at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal in New Orleans on Aug 2, 2020, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Marine Accident Brief 21/18. During cargo operations of the ship, a sudden, localized thunderstorm passed through the area. Ten of the vessel’s 16 mooring lines parted in the high winds, and the ship moved away from the pier. Containers lifted by shoreside gantry cranes struck the ship. One damaged container dropped into the water, spilling a cargo of plastic pellets, known as nurdles. A crane operator suffered a minor injury. Damages totaled about $15.1 million. The ship was equipped with self-tensioning-capable mooring winches that, when engaged, heaved in or paid out line to maintain line tension between a set range. The auto-tensioning devices on the mooring line winches were not engaged because, according to the master, the river current in the Mississippi River and wash from passing vessels could trigger unwanted payout, resulting in slack lines. Instead, the mooring winches were secured by their brakes, and the lines were inspected by the crew during regular rounds to ensure adequate tension. At 1:50 p.m., security cameras at the terminal recorded rain beginning to fall. Ten minutes later, gale force winds and strong rain hit the 'CMA CGM Bianca'. The master described the conditions as a form of a tornado, and both crane operators stated that the winds developed in seconds. At 2:02 p.m., seven forward mooring lines and three aft mooring lines parted, and the ship moved away from the pier. At about the same time, Cranes 5 and 6, both with containers suspended from their spreaders, began moving along their rails as they were buffeted by the wind. The container suspended from Crane 5 hit other containers stowed on the ship and then fell from the ship, still connected to the spreader, hitting the pier and breaking open before falling in the water. Part of the container’s cargo of plastic pellets, was discharged into the river. Millions of the pellets floated downriver, washing up on the river banks or out into the Gulf of Mexico. Investigators determined the probable cause of the accident to be the sudden onset of unforecasted severe winds likely originating from the outflow of a thunderstorm-generated downburst. Marine Accident Brief 21/18 is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xMBKr.

Report: Un-forecasted winds caused container ship to break lose

Severe, un-forecasted winds caused the 'CMA CGM Bianca' to break away from a pier and damaging equipment at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal in New Orleans on Aug 2, 2020, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Marine Accident Brief 21/18, issued on Sep 16, 2021. As longshoremen loaded and unloaded cargo from the container ship, a sudden, localized thunderstorm passed through the area. Ten of the vessel’s 16 mooring lines parted in the high winds, and the ship moved away from the pier. Containers filled by shoreside gantry cranes struck the ship. One damaged container dropped intp the water spilling a cargo of plastic pellets. A crane operator suffered a minor injury. Damages totaled approximately $15.1 million. In its report, the NTSB said the crane operators and the ships’s crew reported extreme high winds that came on in seconds during heavy rains. Rains were heavy enough to completely obscure the visibility of security cameras at the terminal. Although the closest official weather station recorded winds peaking at 31 mph, a vessel located very close to the accident reported a wind gust at 73 mph. The master of the vessel said that the storm was, “in the form of a tornado.” According to the report, the evidence suggested that the 'CMA CGM Bianca' was struck by outflow winds from a downburst. Investigators determined the probable cause of the accident to be the sudden onset of un-forecasted severe winds likely originating from the outflow of a thunderstorm‑generated downburst.

Master medevaced off La Réunion

On Oct 3, 2015, the CROSS Réunion was contacted by the "CMA GGM Bianca" after the captain fell is seriously ill. After consultation with the doctor of SMUR, it was decided to medevac him by helicopter. Given the medical emergency, the CROSS request the assistance of FAZSOI which decided to dispatch a Panther 36F Nivôse helicopter at 8 p.m. to the ship which was 10 miles off the coast of La Réunion. A rescue swimmer and a medical team were airlifted aboard the container ship. The master was hoisted and taken to the hospital in Saint-Denis. After an hour of flight, the helicopter landed at the Bellepierre University Hospital.