RECENT TOWING SPILLS POINT TO I-HOF AS CAUSE

The U.S. Coast Guard's Office of Investigations and Analysis has been reviewing the casualty data for oil spills of 10 gallons or more when the spills originated from a towing vessel of a barge for the period 1994-2000. The article discusses the reasons for the spills as well as presumed human factors/errors in these. 37% of the cases investigated were determined to be results of overflows, overfills, or transfers; they all involved a human or organizational factor. The article provides some examples of reasons for oil spills that include: failure to fully close or open valves; excessive transfer rates; improper crew relief; or failure in training/labeling. The article concludes that addressing human and organizational factors (HOF) might have prevented more than 30% of the examined and documented spills.

  • Corporate Authors:

    United States Coast Guard

    National Maritime Center, 4200 Wilson Boulevard
    Arlington, VA  United States  22203-1804
  • Authors:
    • Abernathy, B
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 2002-6

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Serial:
    • Volume: 59
    • Issue Number: 2

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00932246
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 14 2002 12:00AM