Very serious accident with bulk carrier Bulk Guatemala, IMO 9642227

2022-12-02
L-22/41
Baltic sea, about nautical mile from the entrance to the Klaipėda State Seaport

On 2 December 2022 at 8:20, the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier Bulk Guatemala, IMO No. 9642227, was proceeding in the Baltic Sea and preparing to enter the Klaipėda State Seaport when a pilot boarded the ship, for whom the crew had prepared a combination pilot transfer arrangement, consisting of a pilot ladder and pilot assistant ladder. After the pilot boarded the ship, while the ship's crew was lifting the pilot assistant ladder and preparing to secure it, the wire rope holding one end of this ladder parted. When the rope parted, the end of the pilot assistant ladder of the stern side of the ship fell into the water together with the bosun, who was standing on the ladder. The ship's crew threw out two lifebuoys, and a search and rescue operation was launched for the bosun. Bosun was not found.

Technical examination showed that the pilot assistant ladder rope parted due to long-term operational loads, when the cross-section of the wires forming the rope, being affected by corrosion, decreased to a critical limit.

Status of safety investigation:
2022-12-02 Notification received
2022-12-14 Panama Maritime Authority notified that it will conduct safety investigation
2024-12-03 Panama Maritime Authority notified that it will not conduct safety investigation
2024-12-05 Safety investigation launched, conducted by Safety Investigation Division
2025-07-18 Consultation
2025-11-21 Letter to KISM PTE LTD concerning the submission of the safety investigation report and safety recommendations
2025-11-26 Safety investigation report published