Collision between Bulk Carrier Summer Wind and the Miss Susan Tow

Description/Disclaimer for Accident Reconstruction Animation
Collision between Bulk Carrier Summer Wind and the Miss Susan Tow
Houston Ship Channel,
Lower Galveston Bay, Texas
March 22, 2014
DCA14FM008
This animated reconstruction shows the sequence of events leading up to the collision between the bulkship Summer Wind and the tankbarge Kirby 27706 being pushed by the uninspected towing vessel Miss Susan. The accident occurred at 12:35 Central Daylight Time (CDT) on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in the Bolivar Roads Precautionary Area, where the Texas City Channel, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Galveston Ship Channel intersect the Houston Ship Channel.
Simplified Voyage Data Recorder (S-VDR) data from the Summer Wind and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data recorded by the Coast Guard were used to determine the positions and headings of the vessels involved. Selected comments from Ship-to-Ship VHF Channel 13 radio communications are displayed as text at the time they occurred. First, a sequence of two-dimensional still-image map graphics are used to provide an overview of the circumstances of the accident and vessel positions as the time advanced. The still images are followed by a continuous animation of the motion of the vessels on a map of the area, beginning from 12:30 to the time of collision at 12:35; the animation plays four times faster than actual speed. No attempt is made to depict weather conditions or visibility in the sequence of still images or the animation. The animation is then followed by two video clips. The first video clip is a view looking forward from the Summer Wind showing the collision as the barges pushed by the Miss Susan appear out of the fog. The second clip is a witness video showing the visibility of about one-quarter mile in the fog just after the Summer Wind collided with the barge. The animation includes audio with a voice over narration.
The animation begins with an overall map of the area where the Texas City Channel, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Galveston Ship Channel intersect the Houston Ship Channel. The positions of the Summer Wind and Miss Susan and its tows are illustrated beginning at approximately 12:04 CDT. Scaled diagrams show the relative sizes of the 607-foot-long bulk carrier Summer Wind as compared to the Miss Susan and its tows, which had an overall length of 670 feet.
The next images show the Summer Wind’s planned route along the Houston Ship Channel to Houston, and the Miss Susan’s planned route from the Texas City Channel across the Houston Ship Channel towards Kirby's Bolivar fleet area. Three other tows were converging on the entry into Bolivar (the Buttercup to the south and the Mission and the Natures Way Commander to the north in addition to Miss Susan), and through radio communications they agreed that the Buttercup would be the first tow to enter Bolivar, followed by the Miss Susan, then the Mission and finally the Natures Way Commander. The general cargo ship BBC Indiana was outbound in the Houston Ship Channel, and at about 12:25 CDT the Summer Wind passed the BBC Indiana, going out of the channel to give the BBC Indiana more room to turn as previously agreed to by the pilots aboard the vessels.
Beginning at about 12:30 CDT, the motions of the vessels involved are shown in a continuous animation playing four times faster than actual speed. At about 12:31 CDT, the Miss Susan and the Summer Wind began to discuss destinations and passing arrangements, and four minutes later the bow of the Summer Wind struck the lead barge pushed by the Miss Susan. A video clip looking forward from the Summer Wind shows the collision as the barges pushed by the Miss Susan appear out of the fog, and a witness video shows the visibility of about one-quarter mile in fog just after the Summer Wind collided with the barge.

[@lancelot1953]

Both, the Captain (Miss Susan) and the pilot (Summer Wind) were at fault to various extent, Miss Susan bearing most of the responsibility for this collision. For all those "Monday-morning quarterbacks" and "Armchair Admirals", maneuvering ships/vessels that size with limited maneuverability, currents, poor visibility, wind (when applicable), channel limitations, obstacles, ... is a very complex and demanding task similar to handling Air Traffic Control at busy airports. These NTSB productions are uploaded for the benefit, training, and "lessons-learned" of sailors, airmen and ground crews with the purpose of preventing such incidents in the future; these are not posted to assign blames or make "incompetent" remarks on YT. Ciao, L

[@mendelde]

When AIS gives you the position of the tow, but not the barges...

[@bridgetstoli2347]

Don't stop sideways in the middle of the channel, ever.

[@AlienatedArtist]

Appreciate the narration ❤️

[@mikeklaene4359]

Not sure if the rules of the road have changed since I took the US Army's Harbor Craft Boatswain course at Ft Eustis in 1967. Then the rule was that while underway in the fog you MAY proceed at a speed that would enable you to stop in 1/2 of the visible distance. I have no idea as to what these two guys were doing.

[@StephenGillie]

Wonder what's the stopping distance of a boat that size? How slow does it have to go to stop in 1/8 mile?

[@tubolnavlogger1533]

Ppppp

[@tubolnavlogger1533]

P

[@tubolnavlogger1533]

@@StephenGillie p

[@tubolnavlogger1533]

Pppp

[@delphilungwyn5308]

I assume that the barge was at fault?

[@johnklar5131]

The barge, being an inanimate object, could not have any blame laid upon it.

[@Philc231]

Yup ,pipelines are dangerous ?

[@Dasdembo]

What do you get when you have 2 blind pilots!

[@StephenGillie]

Dead Reckoning!

[@Dasdembo]

@@StephenGillie yes. Like where are we stuff!

[@unggrabb]

Incompetence

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team ! And, let me guess...; the economic demands of a market economy fixated on growing at all costs are such that the half-witted dickheads who pay the Captains and Harbour-Pilots are unwilling to agree to slow or cease the tempo of Harbour-Movements, in order to wait for the Fog to burn off...; because "it's absolutely vital that Oil Deliveries and Grain-Loading continues on schedule and uninterrupted..."? ;-p Ciao !