The sinking last year of a towing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean was due to a lack of watertight integrity, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (Washington, DC, USA) says in anewly issued report.
The Jacqueline A was transiting the Atlantic Ocean from Virginia, USA, to a Louisiana shipyard, where the vessel was to be repaired and brought into compliance with regulations. But on Aug. 8, 2023, it began taking on water while off the coast of South Carolina. Three crewmembers, hired for the voyage, abandoned the vessel and were rescued by local emergency responders.
NTSB investigators determined that the vessel sank stern-first. The bow remained above the water for some time, which indicated that flooding had originated in the aft portion. Investigators found several large wastage holes in the main deck plating above the lazarette, and these holes were located within voids formed by enclosed bulwark framing on the main deck.
“Inaccessible voids or difficult to reach pockets or crevices that are poorly ventilated and provide no access for maintenance pose a risk to vessels due to the potential for severe rusting, or corrosion,” the report concludes. “Because these spaces are inaccessible, corrosion can grow undetected. Operators and manufacturers should keep these risks in mind when designing, constructing, or modifying a vessel.”
The crew told investigators the bilge high-water alarm never sounded. Investigators found the alarm system was ineffective due to not having a sensor in the lazarette, which prevented early detection of flooding. Sensors should be installed in all spaces where flooding may have a significant effect on stability and buoyancy, the NTSB explains.
Investigators also found that electrical wire runs connecting the lazarette to the engine room were not sealed. Once the lazarette filled with water, it poured into the engine room.
“For the safety of a vessel and all on board, the integrity of the hull and watertight bulkheads must be maintained, and any deficiencies must be appropriately addressed,” the report says. “Known issues with watertight integrity, including unsealed watertight bulkhead and deck penetrations and deck and hull plate wastage, need to be addressed by permanent means.”
Valued at $660,000, the vessel was declared a total loss. For more information, view the NTSB’s Marine Investigation Report 24-20 at www.ntsb.gov.