Bahia-Cargo

A pilot who fell to his death on Jan 8, 2023, from a ladder while attempting to board the 'Finnhawk', actually sailing as 'Bahia Cargo', should not have been passed fit for work, an accident investigation of the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has found. He suffered a likely “cardiac event” while attempting to board the ferry from the 15-metre pilot vessel 'Humber Saturn' in the approaches to the Humber Estuary. The man hit the deck of the 'Humber Saturn' before falling into the water and losing consciousness. He was quickly recovered onto the smaller ship’s semi-submerged man overboard recovery platform. This could not be raised, however, and the pilot remained semi-immersed in the cold water for more than 40 minutes until he could be transferred to a lifeboat. A Coastguard helicopter eventually took him to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The MAIB said that “the seafarer’s medical certificate issued to the pilot six months before the accident should not have declared him fully fit for duty, given that he suffered from several chronic health conditions that might have affected his fitness to perform his role. “There was compelling pathological evidence that the pilot was at risk of a sudden cardiac event occurring at any time, and without warning, Although a scenario where the pilot accidentally lost his footing or grip on the pilot ladder could not be discounted, in purely pathological terms it is entirely possible that [the pilot] suffered a sudden cardiac arrhythmia which caused him to let go and enter the water” A postmortem examination noted that the pilot’s medical history included high cholesterol, heart disease and hypertension, heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease and lower back pain. His body mass index indicated that he was obese. The man’s head was uninjured in the fall, but his thoracic spine had been fractured. This indicated that his torso had probably absorbed much of the force when he landed on the pilot vessel. The probe also found that the recovery platform had defects that probably rendered it incapable of lifting, reducing the pilot’s chance of survival. The port authority’s “stop work” procedure was unsuccessful in preventing the pilot from working on the day of the accident, despite several interventions and concerns about his fitness being raised by colleagues. Associated British Ports has been recommended to review its risk assessment and, where necessary, update its pilots’ personal protective equipment to improve their survivability in cold water and align their safety training with industry guidance. Port and industry bodies have also been urged to issue guidance on the setting of occupational standards for marine pilots and the provision of suitable personal protective equipment. While the MAIB has been encouraged by the actions of the port and industry bodies to address these safety issues, he was strongly urging all harbour authorities with a pilotage service to learn the lessons of this accident and take action.

On Sep 30, 2024, the “Finnhawk" arrived at the port of Las Palmas on its positioning voyage from Zeebrugge for delivery to the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express, to be renamed “Bahía Cargo" after the registration procedures. It will enter the Fred. Olsen Cargo Express service in October in a combined schedule with the “Bentayga Cargo” for cargo services between Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.

Roll On Roll Off Finnhawk (11671 gt, built 2001), came in contact with bulk carrier Platon (34378 gt, built 2011), while manoeuvring at the Multi Terminal in the Port of Aarhus, on Sep 19. Vessel Platon sustained a hole in the bow above the waterline and it continued to Aalborg, Denmark for its repair works. Whereas, vessel Finnhawk sustained a bulge in the bow above the waterline, no information regarding the repair works, and the vessel continued its journey. No reports of injuries.

The "Finnhawk" following an explosion in the main engine in the evening of May 11 enroute from Kotka to Helsinki, resumed its voyage on May 12 at 1 a.m. and finally reached Helsinki on May 13 around 5.30 a.m. and berthed at Vuosaari.