NTSB Identifies Steering System Failures as Cause of Guyana Collision

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation into a collision that occurred on March 17, 2024, involving the offshore supply vessel Jack Edwards and the cargo vessel Julie C in the Atlantic Ocean near Georgetown, Guyana. The collision resulted in minor injuries to two crew members and an estimated release of 2,200 gallons of diesel fuel. The NTSB determined that a series of degradations to the Jack Edwards’ steering system, coupled with an inappropriate transfer of controls, led to the incident.

The accident happened as the Jack Edwards was transiting inbound to Georgetown, while the Julie C was outbound. The Jack Edwards unexpectedly veered to port, striking the Julie C. Following the collision, the Jack Edwards was able to continue to Georgetown under its own power. The Julie C also briefly returned to Georgetown before continuing its planned voyage. The combined damage to both vessels was estimated at $1.025 million.

The NTSB’s final report identified the probable cause of the collision as the normalization of degradations within the vessel’s steering system. This degradation compromised the vessel’s ability to steer effectively. Compounding this issue was a mistaken transfer of steering and engine controls from the primary navigation station as the Jack Edwards prepared to meet the Julie C. This transfer resulted in a temporary loss of control, leading directly to the collision. The NTSB has made information and lessons learned from this investigation available on its website.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the National Transportation Safety Board

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