NTSB urges Conoco Shipping improvements

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has urged Conoco Shipping Co. to improve its management of vessel movements during emergencies and its shoreside support for critical shipboad decisions. The recommendations came in an NTSB report on the Oct. 15, 1995, near-grounding of Conoco's 95,000-dwt tanker Patriot in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Roxanne. The tanker was en route from Galveston to Dos Bocas, Mexico, when it came within 10 miles, or 3 hr, of grounding on the north

April 21, 1997

2 min read

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has urged Conoco Shipping Co. to improve its management of vessel movements during emergencies and its shoreside support for critical shipboad decisions.

The recommendations came in an NTSB report on the Oct. 15, 1995, near-grounding of Conoco's 95,000-dwt tanker Patriot in the Gulf of Mexico during Hurricane Roxanne.

What happened

The tanker was en route from Galveston to Dos Bocas, Mexico, when it came within 10 miles, or 3 hr, of grounding on the north side of the Yucatan Peninsula near Campeche, Mexico.

Although the incident occurred in international waters, Conoco asked NTSB to investigate and promised not to take disciplinary action against any employee as a result of the inquiry.

The agency commended Conoco "for voluntarily subjecting its policies and practices to an independent review and evaluation that could have important safety benefits not only for the Conoco fleet, but for the entire marine shipping industry."

Conclusions

NTSB's investigation concluded Conoco lacked a shoreside multi-disciplinary team specifically responsible for helping its masters assess and respond to the risks posed by tropical storms and hurricanes.

The report said, "Had the Patriot's master better understood the operational limitations of his vessel, had he known the vessel could enter into an overspeed condition, and had he considered the effects of rough seas on his vessel's ability to load storm ballast, he probably would not have entered the Bay of Campeche."

The report said Conoco officials could have helped the master with his decision-making in the period leading up to the vessel's encounter with the storm.

And it said, "The likely fatigue of the master as a result of his lack of rest during the protracted emergency might well have compromised his ability to make good and timely decisions."

NTSB forwarded the report to Intertanko to help other shippers improve their decision-making programs for heavy-weather operations.