Stena-Scandica

The Maritime Accident Commission has published its report on the fire on board the 'Stena Scandica' on Aug 29, 2022. The report concludes that the adaptability of the skilled crew was able to remedy faults and deficiencies in the ship's systems. The fire broke out on the carriage deck of the ferry, while it was north of Gotland, Sweden, en route to Ventspils. The fire was extinguished by the ship's crew, but soon after, the ship lost its power supply and drifted out of control towards the island of Fårö. It was decided to evacuate some of the passengers by helicopter, while the damage was repaired. During the evacuation, the crew succeeded in re-establishing the power supply and gaining control of the ship again. The accident commission's investigations showed that the fire that broke out in a truck on deck 4, damaged electrical cables that were essential to the ship's operation. The cables were installed above the vehicles without structural fire protection and redundancy. The damage to the cables resulted in a major failure of the power supply system and caused a complete blackout. The emergency procedures and decision support system available to the crew were standardized documents dependent on all emergency systems being in working order. They did not cover the situation on board, with several system failures, including failures of power backup systems, and did not help the crew to resolve the situation and make decisions. Restoring control therefore depended entirely on the skill of the crew and their ability to use their ingenuity under stressful circumstances. As a consequence of the accident, Stena Line has subsequently protected the cables running in the ceiling of the carriage deck with fire-retardant material, and implemented a number of improvements to the safety systems and procedures on board the ferry. Full report: https://dmaib.dk/Media/638294013795551323/STENA%20SCANDICA%20-%20Fire%20on%2029%20August%202023.pdf

Stena Line Limited, the operator of the 'Stena Lagan' has been prosecuted after an employee sustained serious injuries when he was struck by a van being reversed out of a docked vessel. Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that on Sep 17, 2017, George Ball, a pontoon traffic marshall working for Stena Line Limited, was struck by a 3.5 tonne delivery van at the company’s port terminal in Birkenhead, Wirral. The van was being reversed off the vessel onto the pontoon area by a port service operative. The vehicle reversed over Mr Ball’s head and body after the initial collision had knocked him down. Mr Ball suffered multiple injuries that included numerous fractures to his skull, ribs and other bones, loss of sight in one eye. He has been left with double vision in the other eye and ongoing mental health problems. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was no consideration of physical segregation of pedestrian operatives from moving vehicles when vessels were being unloaded. Stena Line Limited had failed to adequately assess the risks to pedestrians from moving vehicles and consequently put in place effective control measures leading to a safe system of work. Stena Line Limited of Station Road, Ashford, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6576.15. HSE inspector Rohan Lye said after the hearing, “The injuries sustained by Mr Ball, which affect him to this day, were easily preventable. The risks to pedestrians from moving vehicles is an obvious one which should have been identified and controlled. “Had Stena Line Limited employed suitable control measures the life changing physical and emotional injuries which continue to impact Mr Ball and his family would have been avoided."

Stena Line has decided to go ahead with the 36-metre lengthening of the 2005-built Visentini Class STENA LAGAN, bringing the capacities of the ship closer to that of its own E-Flexer Class under construction at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard in China.