Enquiry reports on Danish tug capsize
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board has reported on the foundering of the tug Dive Master while assisting the departure of a sail training vessel from Esbjerg in 2014.
The tug was a last minute replacement for the intended bow tug and after assisting the vessel off the berth and leaving the port, control of the tug was lost and it ended up being dragged by its own towline, hitting the side of the towed vessel, capsizing and subsequently foundering. The three people on board the tug were rescued.
The report found that after being manoeuvred into the position where it was overtaken by its tow a critical situation developed where control was lost and the girting phenomenon occurred. This led to capsizing, flooding through deck openings, and subsequent foundering of the tug. It was noted that the situation was unable to be mitigated by releasing of the towing hook on the tug.
By Peter Barker
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