Ship Stranding and Beaching

• Stranding is accidental or unintentional.
• Beaching is intentional and under comparatively controlled conditions.

Stranding

• Stranding can result from navigation errors, steering failure, or lack of experience.
• A vessel can be stranded by the bow, aft, or midship.
• Stranding can cause considerable damage, especially to the double bottom area on rocky ground.

Actions for Officer of the Watch (OOW) After Stranding

• Stop the engine immediately.
• Raise the ship's general alarm by sounding seven or more short blasts followed by one long blast.
• Display grounding signals using shapes and lights, specifically two black balls during daytime.

Actions for Command Team After Stranding

• Check the vessel's position on the chart and observe water depths around it.
• Calculate the next high and low water times and heights.
• Investigate stability, re-floating details, and repair investigation.
• The master considers re-floating depending on the extent of damage.
• Open communication with relevant authorities, including the coastguard.
• Calculate loss of buoyancy by tons and check stability condition.

Actions for Emergency Team After Stranding

• Assess the damage to the vessel.
• Repair damage to the ship's bottom and sides.
• Reduce water ingress and keep bilges pumped.
• Pick up any Person Overboard (POB) and Man Overboard (MOB).
• Implement fire fighting measures in the engine room, holds, and accommodation areas.
• Take precautions to prevent oil pollution by managing discharge into barges or transfer within the vessel.

Actions for Back-Up Team After Stranding

• Close all watertight and fire doors.
• Sound around the hull to check water depth.
• Check all tanks, including the double bottom and bilges.
• Secure air and sounding pipe caps to prevent oil pollution.
• Check for oil leakage and facilitate oil transfer if possible.