DRIFTING VESSEL AT ANCHORAGE

Capt Mookiah Rajasekhar

The vessel was a product tanker, at Lagos anchorage waiting for discharging.

Moderate weather condition. Another small vessel in anchorage was drifting due to her engine failure.

Warning signal was given to the small vessel which was drifting. The tanker’s E/R was informed to prepare engines, but it could not be done immediately owing to engine problems. Master paid out more cables. Another vessel drifed toward this tanker, Master could not pay out more cables as there was another vessel behind.
The small vessel ahead of this tanker collided on the bow of the tanker, then drifted along the vessel’s port side and drifted away. Tanker’s forward area and sides got damaged, temporary repairs were carried out. Informed the company and port authorities.