What Happened
What Happened
On May 25, 2023, about 1047 local time, the articulated tug and barge Cingluku (tugboat) and Jungjuk (barge), was transiting into Shakmanof Cove from Marmot Bay near Kodiak, Alaska, with six crewmembers on board. While approaching the entrance to the cove, the barge grounded on a submerged rock, damaging the barge’s steel hull. No pollution or injuries were reported, and there was no damage to the tugboat. The total cost to repair the damage to the barge was estimated at $1.47 million.
What We Found
What We Found
We determined that the probable cause of the grounding of the articulated tug and barge Cingluku/Jungjuk was the captain not identifying a rock that was indicated on the displayed electronic navigation chart when planning the vessel’s route into Shakmanof Cove. Contributing was the captain not using all available navigational resources, including the Coast Pilot and the grounding avoidance features of the electronic chart system, when planning the route.
What We Recommended
Training on Electronic Chart Systems
Owners and operators should ensure their crews are sufficiently trained in the use of their electronic chart system (ECS) and understand how to use the different functionalities of the ECS. An ECS can provide a wealth of navigation information to mariners and can display the same feature(s) differently depending on user settings and entered vessel characteristics, such as draft and contour depth settings. Raster navigational charts, displayed on the ECS, do not have this capability.
An ECS offers advanced features that can help users increase their vessel’s safety and crew situational awareness of potential safety hazards. In some cases, incorrect, or non-use of these features may even reduce situational awareness to certain hazards, such as submerged rocks.
While categorically different than an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), ECSs operate similarly and implement many of the same features as International Maritime Organization-compliant ECDIS equipment. ECDIS training is a mandatory course for most credentialed mariners on oceangoing vessels; however, there is no such requirement for the operation of an ECS. For more information about ENC and chart symbols, mariners should refer to U.S. Chart No. 1: Symbols, Abbreviations and Terms used on Paper and Electronic Navigational Charts.
