Bulk Carrier Grounded Twice in Tidal River
A report detailed how expectation bias and bank suction led to a ship grounding after a pilot misjudged current strength.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Current Conditions
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A bulk carrier grounded twice in a tidal river after drifting 42 metres outside the channel. The vessel eventually remained aground for three days after suffering bottom shell plating ruptures on underwater shoals.
Why it matters
The incident highlights critical risks in maritime navigation when pilots experience expectation bias regarding environmental conditions. The collision emphasizes how bank suction and misjudged currents can lead to significant structural damage.
The vessel operated with an 11.7-metre draught in a channel with a 12.2-metre dredged depth, leaving just 0.5 metres of under keel clearance. The ship drifted 42 metres outside the channel to starboard before striking underwater shoals.
The players
The Nautical Institute
This international representative body for maritime professionals publishes technical reports and safety analysis.
The details
The pilot maneuvered the vessel outside the starboard side of the channel, erroneously expecting a strong current to push the ship toward port. After initial grounding, the pilot used aggressive engine and rudder maneuvers in a failed attempt to proceed, eventually grounding the ship a second time at a speed of 6.5 knots.
Timeline
2026: The Nautical Institute published the incident report, known as Mars Report 202628.
Seasonal Patterns
This story follows a pattern of safety analysis established by the Nautical Institute's MARS reporting program, which serves as a central repository for global maritime incident data.
Maritime operators and pilots are urged to account for the phenomenon of bank suction when navigating restricted tidal channels with minimal under keel clearance. Ensuring precise adherence to channel markers remains the primary safety defense against grounding on underwater shoals.
The takeaway
This incident demonstrates that even experienced pilots can be compromised by expectation bias in complex navigation environments. Maintaining situational awareness and accounting for hydrodynamic forces like bank suction are essential to preventing similar hull-breaching accidents.
Further reading
Learn more about maritime safety protocols in our Current Conditions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SWZ|Maritime.
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