USS INGERSOLL (DD-990) 20 JUNE 1992
MALACCA STRAIT COLLISION CASE STUDY
Notes:
-- HOW COULD THESE HAPPEN?
-- ASK WHERE SHOULD A QUALIFIED WATCHSTANDER HAVE STEPPED IN AND ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE SITUATION?
-- FOR XO’S --- ASK WHERE SHOULD I HAVE STEPPED IN?
-- AS WE GO THROUGH THES CASE STUDIES, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO FOCUS ON WHERE THIS MISHAP COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I ASK YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK ON THEM
-- NO SINGLE ERROR NORMALLY RESULTS IN THESE CATASTROPHIC MISHAPS --- NORMALLY A COMBINATION OF ERRORS WHICH CASCADE WITHOUT PROPER CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
-- BRIEFINGS? WHAT IFS? RISK MANAGEMENT?
IN 1989 USS KINKAID COLLIDED WITH A MERCHANT SHIP WHILE TRANSITING THE MALACCA STRAIT. BOTH SURFLANT AND SURFPAC USED THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS COLLISION TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR VIGILANCE ON THE BRIDGE DURING SPECIAL EVOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY TRANSITING THE MALACCA STRAIT.
THERE HAS BEEN, AND STILL IS, A THREAT OF PIRACY IN THE AREA OF THE STRAITS - AS A RESULT MERCHANT SHIPS ROUTINELY TRANSIT WITH ALL DECK LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND FIREHOSES STREAMING OVER THE SIDE AND STERN SHEET. THIS METHOD OF DETERRING PIRATES FROM BOARDING CAUSES NORMAL RUNNING LIGHTS TO BE OBSCURED AND THEREFORE DETERMINING THE ASPECT OF THESE VESSELS VISUALLY IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE.