Sichem Melbourne - Marine Accident Investigation Branch

Pembroke Fisher departed from GATX No1 at Grays in Essex; she too was head
down, during an ebb tide and under compulsory pilotage. Wind conditions were south
westerly, gusting force 8, and a tug was therefore employed to assist in unberthing.
Insufficient distance was made astern into the channel before the tanker came ahead
to make downstream, resulting in the master and pilot attempting contradictory evasive
actions to prevent the ship setting towards leeward obstructions. Pembroke Fisher set
onto Black Shelf buoy, damaging her propeller and rudder, which required dry docking
for repairs.
The root cause of the accident was identified as a failure of the master and pilot
to agree, in sufficient detail, the procedures for clearing the berth, with poor bridge
teamwork and communications being a contributory factor.
As a result of this accident PLA circulated “lessons learned” to its pilots via the
Authority’s intranet system and by hard copy, but not in time to benefit or prevent the
Sichem Melbourne accident.
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