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Report: Deteriorated bollards caused drillship to break away and allide with Akti

A deteriorated bollard led to the drillship 'Valaris' breaking away and colliding with the bulk carrier 'Akti' in Pascagoula on March 12, 2022, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on March 18, 2023. The drilling unit was in the process of being reactivated at the ST Engineering Halter Marine and Offshore Shipyard (STEHMO) when it broke away from the dock in strong winds, drifted across the Bayou Casotte channel and collided with the bulk carrier Akti. There were no injuries reported for the 164 crew embers and personnel on board the drillship or the 22 crew members on board the bulker, and there was no pollution reported. The total damage resulting from the breakaway was estimated at $5 million. The drillship’s mooring lines had been placed on six bollards on the pier at the STEHMO Shipyard. During strong winds of 30-40 knots, with gusts 45-50 knots, one of the bollards broke free at its base and was pulled off the pier into the water. The snapped bollard secured the 'Valaris'’s four bow lines and a semisubmersible rig’s two stern lines. Ultrasonic thickness tests performed after the breakaway indicated there was deteriorated steel at the lower portion of several bollards. Several bollards also showed signs of external corrosion and wastage. In addition, all of the bollards used by the Valaris DS-16 were modified from the original 1997 design, and vertical components were added to each of the bollards to accommodate more lines. As a result of the collision, the 'Valaris' suffered damage to the riser handling system, deck fittings, transfer hose-reel system, walkways and platforms, and other equipment on board. A bulwark panel was deformed on the starboard side, and insets on the side shell plating and port stern were also noted. Divers found no damage to the underwater portion of the hull during an underwater inspection. Damages were estimated at $4.2 million. The 'Akti' suffered damage to the starboard-side bridge wing, handrails, deck coaming, side shell plating, and lighting fixtures. Damages were estimated at $778,000. STEHMO estimated the cost to replace bollard 6 at their facility at $20,000. The bollard was not recovered from the channel after it broke away. There were no reported damages to Chevron dock no. 6 where the Akti was moored. The shipyard has since replaced 10 of the 14 bollards on the pier, with plans to replace an 11th bollard by the end of March 2023. Shipyard managers have begun evaluating the safe working load of the new bollards and are scheduling a pull test using a tugb. Report with photos: https://www.marinelink.com/news/deteriorated-bollard-caused-drillship-503697

Allision in Pascagoula

The drill ship 'Valaris DS 16' broke free of its moorings due to high winds and allided with the 'Akti' in Pascagoula in the morning of March 12, 2022. The Coast Guard responded to the accident near the VT Halter Shipyards and Chevron docks in Pascagoula. Both vessels suffered minor damage, with some damage to the pier. The Coast Guard Sector Mobile has sent three prevention team members to monitor the situation. There have been no reports of injuries or pollution at this time. The channel was previously closed due to weather but remained closed until the vessels were separated. Report with photo: https://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-responds-to-vessel-collision-in-pascagoula-mississippi/2022/03/12/

Bulkcarrier boarded by perpetrators

While en route to Singapore, four perpetrators boarded the 'Western Seattle' on Feb 28, 2020, approximately 3.5 miles east of Pulau Karimun Kecil in the eastbound lane of the TSS in the Singapore Strai. The crew informed the master who raised the alarm and mustered all crew in the wheelhouse. The master reported the incident to the Vessel Traffic Information System Singapore. There was no confrontation between the crew and perpetrators and nothing was stolen.The Republic of Singapore Navy escorted the ship into Singapore and upon arrival, the Singapore Police Coast Guard boarded the ship to conduct a search. No perpetrator was found.