MPA Singapore reports on BatamFast ferry grounding

MPA Singapore reports on BatamFast ferry grounding 1

The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has issued its Investigation Report on last year’s grounding of the Indonesian registered passenger ferry MV Sea Prince, operated by fast ferry operator BatamFast.

On November 29, 2015, at about 7.50 pm, while enroute from Nongsapura Ferry Terminal, Batam, to Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore, the Sea Prince was immobilized at about 0.24 nautical miles (444 m), northwest of Nongsa.

The MPA investigation revealed that the master had deviated from his original planned route after leaving the demarcated navigational channel and gone aground. As a result, Sea Prince sustained damages that immobilised the engines and resulted in flooding of the steering gear room.

Two inflatable life rafts were launched for evacuation of passengers but the first deflated slowly while the second life began to take in water.

All passengers safely returned to Singapore at about 11.50 pm. There was no serious injury or pollution reported as a result of the incident.

The MPA investigation found the primary causal factor was due to the Master, without tenable and valid safety reason altered the heading of Sea Prince towards Singapore prematurely (taking a shorter route) and not following the approved passage plan.

The failure of both life rafts, in particular, the second life raft was due to broken rubberized compound connecting the one-way safety valve tube to the buoyancy unit. These life rafts were last inspected by a life raft service station in Batam and was not carried out in accordance with the recommendations in IMO Resolution A.761 (18) – servicing intervals for a 20-year old life raft.

Following the incident, MPA has issued BatamFast Private Limited a warning advisory to improve its Safety Management System and has not allowed the Master to operate on regional ferries.

MPA also took immediate actions to enhance the safety standards of regional ferries. Inspections on all regional ferries have been stepped up. These include conducting more spot checks when the ferries are at the ferry terminals especially during peak periods and more detailed inspections on Singapore-registered ferries in between their annual surveys for the renewal of Passenger Ship Safety Certificates.

These inspections are aimed at raising the safety standards of regional ferries to prevent accidents such as collision, grounding or shipboard fire; enhance the safety awareness and emergency preparedness of the crew; and assess the level of compliance of the ferries with mandatory requirements and safe practices as well as provide recommendations to further improve the ferry safety standards.

To increase the safety standards of ferry operators, MPA conducted regular safety briefings and has formed a safety working group with the Association of Regional Ferry Operators.

MPA has also met with the Batam authorities to strengthen standard operating procedures.

MPA says it will continue to work with the Indonesian and other regional authorities to further strengthen safety best practices for regional passenger ferries and explore the possibility of holding joint exercises to enhance response coordination.

Moving forward, MPA will be making it mandatory for Singapore ferries to have their life rafts serviced by MPA-approved or recognized life raft service stations and imposing an age limit on life rafts for Singapore and Indonesia ferries operating in Singapore waters.

Press Releases: MPA

Photo Courtesy: MPA

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