The Board of Inquiry into the major crash that occurred this month at the Demerara Harbour Bridge has made a number of recommendations to prevent a recurrence including documenting the conduct of pilots and ships’ masters.
The report on the inquiry was released today.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF INQUIRY
1. With immediate effect the River Pilotage Service should come under the administration of MARAD;
2. The southern limit of Port Georgetown should be statutorily extended to the Grove anchorage area; further MARAD and the competent authority should enlist MARAD pilots who are certified for BERBICE BRIDGE transit to be the pilots for the DHBC transit until such time other MARAD pilots are certified for the DHBC transit
3. The DHBC should review the arrangement and size of the cluster piles to provide for most robust protection of the retractor area of the bridge and consider adjusting the height of the pedestal of the lights so as to avoid background lights from interfering with mariner’s line of sight of all transit lights.
4. Night work in way of welding must not be done during ship transit.
5. The bridge retraction schedule when prepared by the DHBC should be approved by MARAD before publication
6. More DHBC staff on duty in the retraction area should be equipped with radio communication devices and night shift supervisor provided with night vision binoculars.
7. The night shift supervisor found it very difficult to identify the TRADEWIND PASSION when he first observed a vessel moving west of the transit area and as such the DHBC must work in collaboration with the Georgetown Lighthouse to identify errant vessels in a timely manner so that early warnings could be relayed.
8. All single screw convention size vessels transiting the DHB should be tug assisted.
9. No vessels with steering, mechanical and adverse stability condition deficiencies must be allowed to transit the DHB unless such deficiencies is verified by MARAD and contingencies are in place to facilitate transit.
10. Light house attendants to be provided with night vision binoculars for better coverage of the Port area;
11. Light house attendants should monitor channel 12 which is used by the DHBC for vessels transiting the retractor span to provide any assistance that may be necessary such as to relay messages to vessels that cannot be reached by DHB communication centre and
Shift supervisor.
12. Pilots should be subjected to annual medical fitness tests including vision (color blindness to be part of), hearing tests and periodical psychological evaluation of all transit pilots.
13. Pilot Kenneth Cort who was on the TRADEWIND PASSION MUST be suspended for a period of not less than 24 months and only be allowed to return to duty after a process or recertification, assessment of his competency to operate as a pilot by MARAD.
14. The DHBC, Guyana National Shipping Corporation were not equipped with any documented reports of pilots and ship masters conduct that were not in compliance with good practices for safe transit of the DHB although there were numerous verbal reports of such and had such reports been reported to relevant authorities for action pilot would not have been onboard the TRADEWIND PASSION. Therefore, with immediate effect all shipping agencies, DHBC and MARAD must set policies and guidelines for all mariners transiting the DHB and all reports of breach of such policies set must be documented,
investigated and appropriate actions taken.
15. Policy directives should specifically address bridge zones and bridge control areas by grid coordinates and to outline control mechanisms for the various zones.
16. Communication policies for the DHBC should include 24 hours monitoring by all stations including the main Radio Room. Policies must also direct mandatory communication testing.
17. Major Shipping Companies should seek professional guidance on ship requirements according to international and local laws before contractual services are finalized.
18. Infrared as well as CCTV security cameras should be installed at the DHBC to assist the process of identifying any approaching policy breaches regarding bridge transit. These cameras will also aid the investigating process should there be any breaches.
19. All vessels transiting the DHBC should be mandated to possess Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance policies.
20. International Collision Regulations/Convention to which Guyana is party must be implemented as a matter of priority, in light of impending increase in marine traffic.
21. The acquisition and operationalization of adequate and appropriate vessel monitoring systems, and maritime surveillance systems should be prioritised for all maritime zones, including internal waters.