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NTSB report into allision published

On Dec 16, 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation into the incident where the ' Chang Hang Hui Hai' broke free from its mooring during high winds in the Brownsville Ship Channel on Jan 8, 2024, leading to the allision with the tug ' Signet Defender'. The bulk carrier, which had been moored at dock no. 12 in the Brownsville Ship Channel in Brownsville, Texas, drifted across the ship channel and struck the tug, which was tied up to the tug 'Signet Magic' at the Signet Maritime pier along with the tug 'Signet Ranger'. Th damage was estimated at $2.5 million.The accident occurred during rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, with wind speeds increasing and gusts reaching 62 knots within only a few hours. As conditions worsened, the crew of the freighter increased the initial 10-line mooring arrangement to 16 lines with all lines available, excluding the spares. As the winds picked up, the higher wind speed increased the wind load acting on the 'Chang Hang Hui Hai’s lateral surface area above the water. The freeboard had been increasing as it offloaded, increasing its sail area. This force, acting on the vessel nearly perpendicular to its length, significantly strained the mooring lines holding the ship. The force of wind against the ship’s side overcame the breaking strength of several lines forward, causing them to part and the ship’s bow to move away from the pier. This began a cascading failure as the remaining lines took up additional strain. Ten mooring lines and two bollards (with five lines attached) failed, and one line paid out, leading to the ship drifting away from the dock. Neither postcasualty testing of the mooring lines nor an assessment of the mooring bollards’ condition was conducted. However, all the lines were certificated and in good condition, per their last inspection. Nevertheless, without postcasualty tests or an assessment of the condition of the mooring lines and bollards, investigators could not definitively rule out weakened or overloaded mooring lines or overloaded bollards as contributing factors in the casualty. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of the breakaway of the 'Chang Hang Hui Hai' was due to the force of the wind acting on the exposed freeboard of the vessel, which overcame the breaking strength of several mooring lines. Full report: https://safety4sea.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NTSB-Breakaway-of-Bulk-Carrier-Collision-with-tug-2024_12.pdf