Near-miss: Sailing close to a construction barge
- Safety Flash
- Published on 1 March 2004
- Generated on 26 August 2025
- IMCA SF 02/04
- 2 minute read
A Member has reported a recent near-miss where a vessel sailed close to a construction barge and crossed over two of its anchor wires.
What happened?
Immediate communication took place between the vessel, the barge and the complex and the vessel moved out of the anchor area. Nobody was hurt and nothing was damaged.
The company noted that:
- a general navigation warning had not been issued regarding the barge’s work area.
- the vessel master had not contacted the barge before approaching the barge area.
The company has issued a reminder of relevant rules included under the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG). Relevant rules could be:
- Rule 5 – “Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision.”
- Rule 8(a) – “Any action to avoid collision shall be … made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship”
- Rule 8(a)(ii) – “(A power driven vessel shall keep out of the way of) a vessel restricted in her ability to manoeuvre”.
The company involved has also issued the following advice: “Construction barges in the field need a wide anchorage area while working. Normally, navigation warnings indicate the distance to be maintained from the working barge. When no such warning has been provided, it is the master’s responsibility to ensure that the vessel sails at least one nautical mile away from any construction barge, unless communication with the barge has been established, he has permission to come closer than one nautical mile and a sailing course has been established”.
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.