Vessel collision caused by mismatch between bridge and engine room control

Description of Incident

Fishing vessel Kirkella lost control of its propulsion system while berthing, and collided with the harbour tug Shovette in the port of Hull, UK. Kirkella’s bulbous bow breached Shovette’s hull and starboard fuel tank during the collision, causing the tug to partially sink and resulting in approximately 7,000 litres of marine diesel oil spilling into the dock. Kirkella was not damaged. There were no injuries.

Kirkella’s propulsion system comprised a single main engine driving a controllable pitch propeller via a clutch and gearbox. The propulsion system could be operated from several stations located in the wheelhouse and from the engine control room (ECR). The loss of control occurred when the propulsion control was passed from the bridge to the ECR with the clutch engaged. At the time of the handover, the bridge propeller pitch lever was set at zero, while the ECR’s propeller pitch lever was set at 100% ahead. The propeller pitch automatically advanced when control was accepted in the ECR, causing Kirkella to move forward on the berth.

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