Compromised Mooring Lines Lead to Cargo RoRo Endurance's Unintended Drift

A recent incident at the Port of Bremerhaven in Germany has raised eyebrows, as a US-flagged cargo ship, the RoRo vessel Endurance, broke free from its moorings and collided with a pier and dry dock. The Federal Bureau of maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU) attributes this mishap to neglected mooring lines that should have been replaced sooner.

The BSU’s investigation focused on the 49,000 dwt ship,wich was built in 1996 and is operated by ARC (American Roll-on Roll-Off Carriers). On March 13, 2021, worn-out mooring lines snapped due to strong winds reaching up to 50 knots, sending the vessel drifting through the harbor before it struck a dry dock.

Investigators found that inadequate safety management led to the failure of these crucial lines. Despite efforts by the ship’s captain—who was aware of adverse weather conditions—the situation escalated quickly. He had even requested tug assistance prior to the incident.

At around 9:24 AM on that fateful day, with winds picking up at his berth location, the captain took proactive measures by heading to the bridge. by 9:30 AM he had called for tugs and instructed his crew to check on line conditions. Though, when disaster struck shortly after their inspection—at approximately 9:45 AM—the captain ordered immediate actions like dropping an anchor and starting engines.

Unfortunately for all involved, before help could arrive—just eight minutes later—the massive vessel drifted dangerously close to Lloyd Werft dockyard. The tugs arrived too late; they simply didn’t have enough time or space left to avert disaster as they were only about 120 meters away from impact.

The aftermath saw notable damage inflicted upon both ship and infrastructure but thankfully no injuries or pollution incidents occurred. Damage assessments revealed cracks above waterline plating on one side of the hull along with dents elsewhere.

The BSU’s findings confirmed what ARC had already suspected during their own internal review: many mooring lines were in dire condition—with only two out of fourteen meeting safety standards for use!

In response to this alarming event—and similar risks moving forward—the Port of Bremerhaven is set to implement new berth analysis software designed for real-time monitoring of vessels’ mooring setups later this year. This tech aims not just at preventing future accidents but also enhancing overall port safety protocols.

Additonally effective January 1st next year new international guidelines will mandate stricter inspections and maintenance routines for all mooring equipment aboard vessels—including those vital lines! Operators must now establish clear procedures ensuring timely identification and replacement before any potential failures occur—all documented onboard.
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