C5/​1998M Gen­eral Cargo Ves­sel ms BALTIC MER­CHANT, Ground­ing in Pu­umala at Hät­in­virta on 21.4.1998

25.10.2000

The German general cargo ship ms BALTIC MERCHANT owned by Baltic Forest Line GmbH went aground on Lake Saimaa on April 21, 1998. Before the grounding the visibility deteriorated very quickly and there was no clear lead through the ice in the Hätinvirta sound. Ice floes disturbed the radar and the shoreline could not be discerned. The mate was acting as lookout and handled the searchlight. The pilot was steering the vessel and used the radar, which was disturbed by the sea clutter. The grounding occurred in the sound in the darkness at 00:15 and at a very low speed. As a result of the grounding there was a leak in the forepeak.

The grounding of the BALTIC MERCHANT was a result of the progressive reduction in the visibility. When the visibility deteriorated the cooperation between the pilot and the mate became difficult and was also reduced in direct relation to the visibility. The demands for the cooperation grew but were not met. Due to this, also the navigation and steering became more difficult when the pilot tried to cope simultaneously with the piloting and the steering of the vessel and using for this control equipment which was poorly suitable for the task.

A contributing factor to the grounding was also the fairway geometry, because the fairway through the Hätinvirta sound is a demanding one. The passage through it is especially difficult in a fog and without a passage plan. In the prevailing conditions and with the control equipment at hand there were no sufficient preconditions for piloting in any navigation method. Another contributing factor to the grounding was the lack of regulations and instructions, where the limitations for the piloting and for the continuation of piloting are dealt with in relation to the bridge equipment, manning and weather.