ATTENDER

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Report: Master lost orientation ahead of accident

The Maritime Accident Commission has published a marine accident report on the 'Attender's allision with the south pier in Skagen Harbor on Jan 18, 2023. The ship sustained extensive damage below the waterline. The Accident Commission concluded that the accident happened because the master had lost his orientation in the harbor and steered directly towards the pier. There were several reasons why the skipper lost his orientation: Navigation via landmarks, including pier lighthouses, combined with the port's light conditions, the ship's speed and the skipper's lack of familiarity with the port's layout meant that he confused the port's southern inner pier lighthouse with the outer pier lighthouse. Therefore, he had the perception of being in open waters, and there were no active warning mechanisms on board in the form of lookouts and alarms on the navigation equipment, which corrected this misconception. The service vessel's owner, Northern Offshore Services, has subsequently implemented a number of preventive measures to prevent a similar accident from taking place. Full report: https://dmaib.dk/Media/638225175420438267/ATTENDER%20-%20Grundst%C3%B8dning%20den%2018.%20januar%202023.pdf

Wind farm vessel disabled

Eight people on board the "Attender" whose engines had failed were rescued as severe gales approached in the night of Jan 3, 2014. The Barrow lifeboat launched at 9.30 p.m. to rescue the disabled wind farm maintenance vessel in the approach to Barrow channel. It was being assisted by another wind farm vessel which had been unable to make progress whilst towing. At the time the wind was from the south east at 25 knots, with a spring tide high water of 9.9 metres expected just after midnight. The Tamar class lifeboat "Grace Dixon" was launched and made good progress against the increasing wind strength and larger waves until she reached the vessel after a five mile journey. The disabled vessel was successfully moored at Barrow Docks after two hours and the lifeboat returned to station where she was made ready for the next emergency call.