JOHN J BOLAND

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Report: Inadequate operating company guidance on underkeel clearance led to grounding

Inadequate operating company guidance on underkeel clearance led to grounding of the 'John J. Boland' n Lake Huron on April 21, 2023 the National Transportation Safety Board said on Aug 6, 2024. The vessel grounded twice as it was completing final loading in Port Dolomite, Michigan. The crew discovered flooding and damage to the hull after it was underway. The vessel sustained over $775,000 in damage. ​The crew planned to load a total of 30,000 tons of three types of aggregate stone. The first mate created a load plan based on past load plans, the ship’s loading and stability software and the operating company’s draft guidance spreadsheet. The load plan required the drafts of the John J Boland be no greater than 26 feet 8 inches. The first mate believed the operating company’s draft guidance included a safety factor that would provide additional underkeel clearance between the vessel and the shoal, or shallow water, but the draft guidance did not include a safety factor. The operating company’s safety management system also did not provide guidance for creating load plans related to minimum underkeel clearances to be maintained during loading operations. The NTSB determined the operating company’s guidance was inadequate for creating a load plan with sufficient underkeel clearance. In addition to the inadequate company guidance, the NTSB also found the master’s decision to use the main engine to free the vessel after it grounded a second time also caused the hull damage. To free the vessel after it first grounded, the crew used mooring lines to move it ahead. After it was free, the crew continued to load the vessel, which likely placed the vessel harder onto the shoal. The master used the vessel’s main engine to free it and back off the dock after the second grounding because the vessel was ready to depart. The vessel’s hull would have scraped along the bottom as the master backed the vessel off the dock.

Coast Guard freed vessels stuck in ice

The Great Lakes shipping season was scheduled to end on Jan 15, 2018, but Lake Erie’s ice was forming earlier than usual. The U.S. Coast Guard cutters "Neah Bay" and "Morro Bay" — 140-foot ice-breaking tugs — freed several vessels on Jan 3 and 4 which were hindered by ice in western Lake Erie and the St. Clair River. Cold weather caused ice to form rapidly over Lake Erie, leading to the "John J. Boland", "Hon. Paul J. Martin", "Indiana Harbor" and "James R. Barker" to become stuck in ice. The "John J. Boland" became stuck in ice in western Lake Erie late on Jan 1 and was broken out by the Morro Bay about 8:45 a.m. on Jan 3. The "Indiana Harbor" was beset by ice on Jan 2 in the Middle Channel of St. Clair River and was broken by the Neah Bay. The "Hon. Paul J. Martin" was trapped by ice on Jan 2 in western Lake Erie and was freed by the Morro Bay. The "James R. Barker" was freed in western Lake Erie Tuesday and broken out by the tug "Calusa Coast". It became trapped again and was later freed by the "Morro Bay".