On September 3, 2020, the paddle steamer Waverley was involved in a serious marine casualty when it made heavy contact with the eastern pier at Brodick, Isle of Arran, Scotland.
The incident occurred while the vessel was attempting to berth following a 2-hour afternoon excursion along the Isle of Arran coast.
Twenty-one of the 186 passengers and three of the 27 crew members on board sustained injuries as a result of the impact. The Waverley also suffered damage to its bow above the waterline.
The incident occurred while the vessel was attempting to berth following a 2-hour afternoon excursion along the Isle of Arran coast.
Twenty-one of the 186 passengers and three of the 27 crew members on board sustained injuries as a result of the impact. The Waverley also suffered damage to its bow above the waterline.
During the approach to the berth, the vessel's bridge team ordered astern propulsion to slow the vessel. However, the engine failed to restart when the controls were moved to the astern position because the high-pressure steam piston came to rest at its dead centre position.
By the time the chief engineer managed to resolve the problem, it was too late, and the Waverley struck the concrete wall at the closed end of the pier at approximately 2.8 knots.
By the time the chief engineer managed to resolve the problem, it was too late, and the Waverley struck the concrete wall at the closed end of the pier at approximately 2.8 knots.
This blog post will explore the events leading up to the accident, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to prevent similar incidents in the future
Read the report and answer the questions.
Questions
What type of vessel is the Waverley, and what is its significance?
The Waverley is a heritage paddle steamer passenger vessel, propelled by two midship paddle wheels directly driven by a triple-expansion steam-powered reciprocating engine.
At the time of the accident in 2020, it was the only seagoing paddle steamer operating anywhere in the world. It originally operated on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and now provides seasonal pleasure excursions around the UK.
At the time of the accident in 2020, it was the only seagoing paddle steamer operating anywhere in the world. It originally operated on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and now provides seasonal pleasure excursions around the UK.
What happened during the incident at Brodick pier on 3 September 2020?
While attempting to berth at Brodick pier, the Waverley made heavy contact with the eastern pier.
The chief engineer, in attempting to switch to astern propulsion, encountered a "dead centre" event in the engine, preventing it from restarting quickly enough.
This resulted in the vessel colliding with the pier at approximately 2.8 knots, injuring 21 passengers and 3 crew members. The bow of the Waverley sustained damage above the waterline and the pier sustained minor scrapes.
The chief engineer, in attempting to switch to astern propulsion, encountered a "dead centre" event in the engine, preventing it from restarting quickly enough.
This resulted in the vessel colliding with the pier at approximately 2.8 knots, injuring 21 passengers and 3 crew members. The bow of the Waverley sustained damage above the waterline and the pier sustained minor scrapes.
What is a "dead centre" event in the context of the Waverley's engine, and why was it significant in the accident?
A "dead centre" event occurs when the high-pressure piston stalls at the full extent of its travel, preventing steam from flowing through the engine.
In the Brodick pier incident, this event prevented the chief engineer from quickly engaging astern propulsion, which was crucial for slowing the vessel as it approached the closed end of the pier.
The failure to quickly resolve the dead centre event was a primary cause of the collision.
In the Brodick pier incident, this event prevented the chief engineer from quickly engaging astern propulsion, which was crucial for slowing the vessel as it approached the closed end of the pier.
The failure to quickly resolve the dead centre event was a primary cause of the collision.
What factors contributed to the engine's failure to restart quickly during the berthing manoeuvre?
Several factors contributed to the engine's failure: the high-pressure piston being in a dead center position, loose locking nuts on the HP piston valve that affected engine timing, and a less-than-optimal vacuum in the condenser due to blocked diaphragm valves.
The chief engineer's lack of recent experience with this specific scenario and the absence of formal training for dealing with dead centre events during berthing also played a role.
The chief engineer's lack of recent experience with this specific scenario and the absence of formal training for dealing with dead centre events during berthing also played a role.
What safety management practices were in place on the Waverley, and how effective were they?
Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL) operated the Waverley under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, a comprehensive safety management scheme.
However, the investigation revealed shortcomings: the risk of a dead centre event during berthing was not adequately assessed, there was no documented procedure for dealing with such an event, and the Piers Book lacked detailed berth-to-berth navigation plans and risk assessments for closed-end piers.
However, the investigation revealed shortcomings: the risk of a dead centre event during berthing was not adequately assessed, there was no documented procedure for dealing with such an event, and the Piers Book lacked detailed berth-to-berth navigation plans and risk assessments for closed-end piers.
What actions did Waverley Excursions Limited take after the accident to improve safety?
WEL undertook numerous actions, including: reviewing and revising its SMS to include a formalised training regime, a revised risk assessment process, enhanced passenger safety procedures, improved berthing-related hazard information in the Piers Book, additional crew briefing procedures, technical evaluation of safety-critical engine components, appointed a technical superintendent, recruited permanent staff, developed a bespoke planned maintenance software system and increased spares holdings, and an increase to minimum bridge manning.
Why were no new recommendations made following the investigation of the Brodick pier incident?
No new recommendations were made because of the comprehensive actions already taken by Waverley Excursions Limited (WEL) following the accident.
These actions addressed the safety issues identified during the investigation, particularly regarding training, risk assessment, safety management systems, and maintenance procedures.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) determined that the steps taken by WEL were sufficient to prevent similar accidents in the future.
These actions addressed the safety issues identified during the investigation, particularly regarding training, risk assessment, safety management systems, and maintenance procedures.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) determined that the steps taken by WEL were sufficient to prevent similar accidents in the future.
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