Assalamoalikum and Welcome back to Orange Shots
You guys might already know about the accident that took place off Gujrat Coast (India)
Tow ships collided here
One Ship is "Atlantic Grace" Other ship is "Aviator"
From the photos and videos it is evident that ..
Tanker Atlantic Grace has collided "head On" to the port side of MV Aviator
Her bulbous bow is shoved into hull of MT Aviator causing structural damage
Tanker Atlantic Grace is bigger in size than MV Aviator
Atlantic Grace was on her way to Fujairah - UAE
Aviator was heading towards Kandla - India
This happened off Dwarka District - India
At about 10 km distance from Okha - India
on the eve of 26th November 2021.
You guys want to know about this incident
and I will give you guys all the details that I have
Before we go into more details about the "responsibility" of incident and
what actions have been taken till now,
let's talk about details of involved vessels
Atlantic Grace is an Oil and Chemical Tanker
There was 21 crew on board this vessel & crew nationality was Indian
This ship is 183 meters long, 32 meters Wide and was drawing 7.8 meters draft
She's a handymax vessel with DWT of 150,000 Tonnes
Built in 2008, she's about 13 years old.
MV Aviator was a house to 22 crew members all belonging to Philippines
She is 139 meters long, 25 meters wide and her draft was 6.0 meters
She was heading for Kandla and Grace was heading For Fujairah
Immediately after collision, both vessels called Indian Coast guard for Assistance
ICG mobilised all their assets including Oil pollution Control tugs
as initial reports also suggested slight oil leakage from one of the vessels
initial photos also suggested same
ICG's tugs and aircraft kept monitoring situation in the coming time
Salvage experts arrived on scene on coming Saturday
They were to devise a plan for separating both Ships
I will shortly tell you guys about the reason for not separating them
As per later reports, crew from both the ships were evacuated
Evacuating both the vessels is debatable but I am not the one to comment on that
It was the decision of ICG to do so.
Salvage experts planned to de-bunker both the vessels first
De-bunkering operation was completed on 4th December 2021
Approximately 9 days after the collision
Now came the time to separate both ships
The separation of both vessels completed on 4th / 5th December 2021
Now MT Aviator is heading towards Port of Refuge - we don't know which port that is
Atlantic Grace is heading towards Kandla for possible inspection / repairs
Now let's ask two important questions 1. Who was at fault?
2. Why are the ships not separated after collision?
& why the ships are always left entangled for some time
Let's answer the first question, Who was at fault?
Bow of Atlantic Grace is literally shoved into port side of MV Aviator
Now I don't have the video of what exactly happened before the collision
Given this fact, please take my analysis with a pinch of Salt
but given photographic and video graphic evidence
Atlantic grace has breached port side shell of MV Aviator
If we reverse the situation a bit
it looks like that Aviator was on the Stbd Side of "Atlantic Grace" prior collision
Now if we have a look at COLREGS and study the Rules for Give Way vessel
it clearly mentions the in case of power driven vessels underway or making way through water
The vessel that has other on her stbd side
is the vessel that will keep out of the way of other vessel
She has to keep herself and other vessel safe by taking action
Here, it looks like MV Aviator was on the Starboard Side of Atlantic Grace
The makes "MT Atlantic Grace" is the give way vessel here,She has to take action
as it appears, the things didn't go well ..
and they collided eventually
The reports by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) mention one thing clearly
"Human Error" was the main cause of this Incident
and it appears that Atlantic Grace was the first to commit a mistake
But she's not the only one to blame here
as COLREGS also narrate for "stand on" ship to take action if appropriate action is not taken by
the Give way vessel
We don't know if MV Aviator took any action or Not
as of now it appears that Atlantic Grace was the first to falter
But MT Aviator didn't take appropriate action as well
Aviator should have taken action after establishing that the sole action by
Atlantic Grace may not be sufficient to avoid collision
looks like she didn't
or that's what it appears as of now, the detailed reports of incident will clarify this fact.
Now let's talk about "Why both ships weren't separated"
Simple answer is ..
When the ships collide & the hull is breached..
Separating these ships can lead to one of the 2 things ..
If there is already slight oil pollution, it may aggravate
before separation, this breach was mostly plugged by structure of the other vessel ..
and there was just little pollution
Once separated, this breach will be unblocked and pollution might increase
2nd thing ..
it has been observed that in few of cases, after the ships were separated
one of the two vessels either sunk or broke into two ..
So both vessels aren't separated until it is assured that
both the vessels are structurally stable
and separating them won't aggravate the situation
and until it is established that separating them
won't cause harm to environment .
and that's why both the vessels were kept entangled and tied ..
until it was established that separating both ships will not be detrimental to themselves ..
.. or the environment
& that's the reason both vessels were not separated
until now, we don't have the official report of the incident ..
in case such a report is made public,
I will share on instagram if the report is small enough ..
if worthy, we will make a video.
If you giuys want to know "how do I make a video when I'm on ship"
Tap here ..
if you guys want to know the reason behind breaking of ship "Crimson Polaris"
Tap here ..
Until the next video, take care of yourself
Keep me in your prayers
With Tonnes of love for my "Orange Shots" family
and to be "Orange Shots" Family
This is me "Zahid Nisar" You are watching "Orange Shots"
& Until the next Video
Allah Hafiz