a. Dozing off
Of the 52 groundings in 1998 in which a dozing off was indicated as a cause, 49 occurred on vessels with automatic steering systems and in the 48 cases these systems had been engaged. A significant number of groundings caused by this category occurred between midnight and early morning, while 33 groundings, or 63.0% of the total, occurred under clear skies and good visibility conditions.
b. Failure to check vessel's position
This term refers to the failure of vessels employing radar and/or other positioning systems to check their own positions properly, causing them to run aground on shoals or reefs. Of the 44 vessels involved in groundings attributed to failure to check vessel's position, distraction by another vessel was cited in accidents involving 10 vessels; distraction by something else in cases involving seven vessels; misunderstanding of object or distance in accidents involving six vessels; and ambivalence toward daily activities in accidents involving five vessels (Table 5-2-4).
Table 5-2-4 Reasons for and number of vessels involved in accidents attributed to failure to check vessel's position
(3) Causes of machinery failure
Judgments were pronounced on 121 accidents involving machinery failure in 1998, with 139 causes indicated. The leading cause of machinery failure was defective inspection, maintenance and handling of the main engine, which was identified in 68 instances, or 48.9% of the total. This was followed by defective inspection, maintenance and handling of fuel oil/lubricating oil, cited in 32 instances, or 23.0% of the total; and defective inspection, maintenance and handling of auxiliary machinery, indicated in 21 or 15.1% of the total. (Table 5-2-1).
Of the machinery failures attributed to defective inspection, maintenance and handling of the main engine, neglect of daily maintenance and inspection and insufficient inspection and supervision during operation was cited in 32 instances, a majority, erroneous judgment and other causes were indicated in 28 instances; failure to implement procedures correctly despite recognizing the need for maintenance or repair in six instances; and the early occurrence of abnormalities of untraceable origin in two instances (Table 5-2-5).
