Cause of 'wedged' cargo ship revealed

A cargo ship became wedged in a river bank during attempts by its pilot to correct its position as it prepared to enter port, marine investigators have found.

The captain of the Baltic Arrow, which was carrying timber to Wisbech in Cambridgeshire from Riga in Latvia, reported "grounding" in the River Nene at about 08:49 BST on 25 June.

The boat was "refloated with tug assistance" 11 hours later by the Wisbech Harbour Authority, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said.

The authority has recommended a review of "vessel suitability for transits to and from the Port of Wisbech".

A spokesperson for Wisbech Port said at the time: "All berths at Wisbech port are NAABSA berths, which stands for 'not always afloat but safely aground' so, technically, all vessels ground whilst moored here during low water.

"The river bed is very soft and sludgy here and the vessel is designed to safely ground so we are confident of no ongoing issues."

The report said the 22-year-old St Kitts and Nevis-registered vessel left Riga on 19 June with a cargo of timber.

At 08:14 on 25 June, it passed the Cross Keys swing bridge on the Nene, reducing speed "in preparation for the berthing manoeuvre" at the Port of Wisbech.

One of the two pilots on board noticed the vessel was "slightly to port of the planned track" and attempted to correct its position, the report said.

However, the Baltic Arrow's bow "quickly swung to starboard" and at 08:48, the ship grounded on the western bank of the river at a speed of six knots, with the stern "then pushed onto the eastern bank by the flood tide, wedging the vessel across the river".

The report found the pilot did not realise they had over-corrected the vessel until it was too late, and "helming" it for two hours may have led to a "lapse of concentration".

It found the vessel's bridge team was communicating "ineffectively" and "insufficient action" had been taken to prevent the incident happening again after the Baltic Express, a sister vessel, also ran aground in February 2023.

The Wisbech Harbour Authority has commissioned an independent inquiry into the incident, as well as a review into the suitability of transits to and from the Port of Wisbech, the report added.

Galleywood Shipping (Baltic Arrow) Ltd has also considered introducing an additional bridge watchkeeper and reviewed the ship's rudder capabilities, it said.

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