The
Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal pier is shown on June 9, 2022, with barge
alongside the damaged dolphin for repairing (with catwalk removed)
photo: NTSB
From Seatrade Cruise News by Anne Kalosh
Overreliance on an electronic chart, miscommunication and an outdated navigational chart were all factors in Radiance of the Seas damaging a cruise terminal pier last year near Sitka, Alaska, the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.
photo: NTSB
The Royal Caribbean International ship was docking at the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal on May 9, 2022 when it struck and damaged a mooring dolphin.
The ship sustained a minor hull indentation.
The mooring dolphin sustained damage to three of the four pilings supporting it.
Area where Radiance of the Seas contacted the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal mooring dolphin, as indicated by a red X. (Background source: Google Maps)
Timeline of Incident (Credit: NTSB)
$2.1m in damages and rest of season impacted
There were no reported injuries to the 1,375 passengers, 782 crew and four pilots on board.
The contact resulted in $2.1m in damages to the pier and impacted cruise ship traffic to the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal for the remainder of the 2022 season.
There were no reported injuries to the 1,375 passengers, 782 crew and four pilots on board.
The contact resulted in $2.1m in damages to the pier and impacted cruise ship traffic to the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal for the remainder of the 2022 season.
Damaged Dolphin Piling (Credit: Halibut Point Marine Services)
NOAA not informed of pier extension
The terminal did not inform the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, the agency in charge of updating US coastal nautical charts, of the extension.
NOAA had no record of the construction until NTSB investigators informed them of the pier’s extension after the contact.
At the time of the contact, the electronic navigation chart (ENC) the cruise ship was using did not show the extended pier or added dolphins.
ENC updated postcasualty (left) and as seen on Radiance of the Seas’s ECDIS (right) with the ship’s outline after mooring shown in orange.
(Sources: NOAA [left] and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines [right])
Radiance of the Seas crew relied heavily on the vessel’s electronic chart and information system (ECDIS) to plan and execute their docking.
The master and bridge team had other navigational technologies, including radars and cameras, available to assist them with the approach to the terminal.
Even with these tools available, the crew relied solely on the ECDIS, which showed an inaccurate ENC.
Satellite view (Maxar/Google Earth)
without extension of Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal pier
in the GeoGarage platform
(Chart will be canceled on 11/01/23)
Title : Sitka Sound to Salisbury Sound; Inside Passage;Neva Str.-Neva Pt. to Zeal Pt.
United States
Scale : 40000 / Cat : 5 / Type : Harbor
Edition_date : 20130820 / Edition : 10
Update_date : 20230508 / Update : 2
United States
Scale : 40000 / Cat : 5 / Type : Harbor
Edition_date : 20130820 / Edition : 10
Update_date : 20230508 / Update : 2
Master-bosun miscommunication
While docking, the bosun and master did not confirm the type of distances that were being communicated.
The bosun was relaying accurate distances to the pier’s northernmost dolphin, but the master incorrectly assumed the bosun was calling out how much clearance the ship would have as the stern passed the dolphin.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of the contact was the master and bridge team’s overreliance on an electronic chart to identify the pier’s position relative to their planned rotation location, and the master’s misunderstanding of the clearance distances to the pier being called by the crew member on the stern while the vessel was rotating.
Contributing was the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal not reporting the extension of the pier into the waterway to the appropriate hydrographic authority in order to update the relevant navigational chart.
While docking, the bosun and master did not confirm the type of distances that were being communicated.
The bosun was relaying accurate distances to the pier’s northernmost dolphin, but the master incorrectly assumed the bosun was calling out how much clearance the ship would have as the stern passed the dolphin.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of the contact was the master and bridge team’s overreliance on an electronic chart to identify the pier’s position relative to their planned rotation location, and the master’s misunderstanding of the clearance distances to the pier being called by the crew member on the stern while the vessel was rotating.
Contributing was the Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal not reporting the extension of the pier into the waterway to the appropriate hydrographic authority in order to update the relevant navigational chart.
Lessons learned
NTSB investigators cited two lessons learned as a result of the investigation: voyage planning and reporting port or terminal modifications.
'Proper voyage planning includes developing a complete plan for every phase of the voyage, from the vessel’s starting port to its end port (berth to berth), including leaving the dock and mooring,' the report said.
'Reference points for maneuvering should be identified, measured precisely and reported clearly.
Vessel bridge teams should also ensure that they have the most up-to-date data before getting underway and consult with the local pilot(s) on the accuracy of navigation charts to ensure depictions of ports and/or terminals are correct.
'Ports and terminals should immediately report significant modifications to port or terminal configurations to the appropriate hydrographic authority (for example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) so that charts can be updated and the changes made readily available to vessel owners, operators, and crews/bridge teams,' the report continued.
The full marine investigation report is available here.
Links :
- CruiseHive : Report Released on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Hitting Pier in Alaska
- MarineInsight : Overreliance On Electronic Chart And Miscommunication Leads To Cruise Ship Striking A Pier In Alaska
- Safety4Sea : NTSB Investigation: Cruise ship strikes pier in Alaska due to navigational errors
- Kcaw : Damaged mooring dolphin leaves cruise ship terminal at half capacity
- CruiseRadio : NTSB Says Cruise Ship Navigational Team To Blame For $2 Million Docking Mistake
Safety4Sea : Lessons learned: ENCs can be inaccurate for many reasons
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