Safety

A slacker wire could have saved Bourbon Dolphin

The master of Bourbon Dolphin asked to have more slack on the wire allow the vessels more room to manoeuvre. At first the tow master refused to give out more wire, but later relented when the captain insisted.

When captain Grim Bergtun, the master of AHTS Olympic was asked if he believed that the accident could have been avoided had the wire been slackened, he answered “Yes”. The slack on the wire had allowed Olympic Hercules to get pack in position through strong current and six metres waves. The tow master appeared to understand that Bourbon Dolphin had difficulties, because he asked Olympic Hercules to stand by to assist. According to captain Bergtun, the tow master also asked the Bourbon Dolphin to terminate the job and get out of the area. Seven anchors were already in place and the situation was not regarded as critical.

Written: 2007-06-20 14.52.13
Editor: Petter Arentz