Work/Rest hour violations contributing to crew fatigue is a real problem. Chief Engineers, Masters and especially office management very well understand that stacking port operations on top of one another is a problem. Maneuvering, Cargo Operations, stores, audits, inspections, vetting, vendor repairs … We will continue to have things like this happen until we start putting the proper emphasis on proper rest for our crews. It is getting better but if safety is first, we all need to put safety first. Even if fatigue didn’t contribute in this case because the fuel spill started a short time after starting bunkers, it would have been an issue here at some point because the time required for Bunkers would have almost certainly resulted in a violation.
This event offers an opportunity to demonstrate a simple timeline of what happens every day in every port.
Shipping is different from tugs or work boats regarding arrivals, maneuvering and less so Bunker Operations. It doesn’t mean these vessels do not have similar, equally important hazards in their operations. This applies to the entire maritime industry.
Many of my timelines are based on a knowledgeable Engine crew and them being very efficient. Times will be longer, not shorter.
They arrive dockside at 16:30. It doesn’t say what time they are All Fast so we will assume it is arrival, dockside. Maybe the entire crew is efficient and the Bridge doesn’t delay in communicating with the ECR and they call Finished With Engines at 16:30.
It’s been a while since I’ve been into Baytown so I may be off but maneuvering inbound would be about six hours from Arrival with another hour to tie up.
The CE would be up for maneuvering beginning at 09:30. Add a half hour call-out to prepare for maneuvering to shut down the evaporator, shift to the high sea chest, standby generator, gear/astern testing he’s downstairs by 09:00. VLSFO is sub 1.0 sulfur so time for Fuel changeover is not a consideration.
Again anticipating efficiency, a 30 minute for 09:00 call out for the CE starts his day if he is not up already. At least two licensed engineers will be in the Engine Room for maneuvering, possibly more.
The report said after arrival he and the 2AE did tank soundings. Call it 30 min to complete these and say he knocked off at 17:00. He would have to do his maneuvering reports and bunker plan based on his soundings which will take an hour even if he had his VPS paperwork pre-filled out. Add another two hours until he gets showered and to bed.
Down at 19:00, Up at 01:30 when the Bunker Barge shows up. That’s 6 hours uninterrupted sleep by Watch-keeper. He’s taking 1,180 MT bunkers at 100 MT an hour. They’re not taking both at the same time so that’s 12 hours bunker time not including paperwork, hose connections and disconnects, slow downs while shifting tanks, samples, post-bunker soundings, post paperwork with the barge and everything else. Call it all 14 hours. Then he has to complete his bunker paperwork after bunkers.
It is likely everything took longer than what I outlined and he was almost certainly in violation at the onset of bunker operations. He honestly only had 30 minutes leeway and that doesn’t take into consideration his rest prior to the day of arrival. As vessel management we try to manage our hours but those in the office who are scheduling our port visits need to take into consideration that our days begin long before we catch that first line. Same goes with after departure. We can do better…
