Groundings and strandings are probably the most common types of marine casualties. A grounding is when a ship strikes the seabed, while a stranding is when the ship then remains there for some length of time. Both can damage a vessel and result in oil spills depending on the ocean bottom type (rocky, sandy, muddy), sea conditions, and severity of the event (is the ship a little scraped or did it break open).
Grounding, even without initial damage, induces extreme loads onto marine structures. It is a marine accident of profound importance due to its impact and may lead to the following:
- The loss of human life.
- The environmental impact, especially in the case where large tanker ships are involved.
- Financial consequences to local communities close to the accident.
- The financial consequences to ship-owners, due to ship loss or penalties.
The following is a general plan of action, with suitable modifications to suit the actual type of ship involved:
- Stop engines and sound the general alarm.
- Check soundings of all double bottom spaces, cofferdams etc.
- Get ready for re-floating and close all water-tight doors.
- Assess hull damage and stability.
- Assess possible effects of the grounding on cargo.
- Determine shoal depth, sea bed composition and direction of deep water.
- Carry out jettisoning of cargo, if possible.
- Prepare boats for launching and carry out other necessary actions.
- Carry out de-ballasting if necessary and if feasible and / or plan jettisoning of cargo if possible.
- Check for oil pollution & take remedial measures.
- Close the sea chest valves and lock the rudder temporarily.
- Check the tide timings and keep the engines on stand by for re-floating attempts.
- Inform all concerned with updates from time to time.
- Exhibit the vessel aground lights / shapes.