M2022-01 Grounding of minelayer Pyhäranta on 24 August 2022

Minelayer Pyhäranta participated in a firing exercise led by the Coastal Fleet on 24 August 2022 in the Örö firing range located west of Hanko. The targets for the firing exercise included anchored floating devices. Various chart systems were used within the Navy for planning the location of the target devices and determining their final positions. It was the responsibility of the master of the target layer to determine the final position of these target devices and lay them accordingly.

After the firing exercise, minelayer Pyhäranta started to recover the anchored target devices. Their exact positions were not confirmed on the vessel before lifting the devices and the crew lacked awareness of their potential risk of drifting.

During the lifting operation, roles and duties related to steering the vessel changed multiple times on the bridge and there was no consensus on who was the officer of the watch, who was responsible for steering and who was responsible for navigational safety. When preparing to lift the third target device, the responsibility for steering was transferred from the master to the second officer. The precise location of the vessel was, however, not confirmed. Minelayer Pyhäranta was then navigated using the third anchored target device as a guide for optical navigation. The electronic chart and information display settings affected the information displayed in the system thus making it more difficult to notice the nearby shallows.

This lack of awareness of the nearby shallows lead the vessel to run aground at a speed of five knots. The master then took the responsibility for steering and attempted – unsuccessfully - to dislodge the vessel from the grounds. After this, the master sounded a damage control alarm. The accident did not cause serious personal injuries or environmental damage.

The flooding resulting from the grounding was under control in approximately 20 minutes and the chief engineer investigated other damage caused to the vessel. The vessel was not in immediate danger of sinking and no immediate assistance was required from other authorities. Several Navy units participating in the firing exercise were able to assist in salvage operation. As part of the salvage operations, crew conscripts were evacuated onto other Navy vessels.

Minelayer Pyhäranta was refloated the following day with assistance from the Finnish Border Guard vessel Tursas. Afterwards, Navy vessel Halli towed minelayer Pyhäranta to Olkiluoto shipyard for inspection and repairs.

In order to avoid similar accidents and mitigate their consequences, the Safety Investigation Authority,Finland (SIAF) recommends that the Navy ensures compliance with the following safety recommendations:

• The Navy is urged to draw up instructions for floating target device operations.
• The Navy is urged to draw up instructions for risk management related to electronic chart and information display systems.
• The Navy is urged to review in more detail factors that are critical for smooth damage control operations when designing vessel structures. In addition, functionality of structures and equipment important for damage control must be ensured in exercises throughout each vessel's life cycle.