A 52,000-tonne cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles that was deliberately grounded by its crew in the middle of the world's busiest shipping lane could have been hit by problems before the incident as a result of human error, it was claimed today.
The pilot and master of the Hoegh Osaka took the decision to steer the ship onto a sandbank - Bramble Bank - to prevent it from capsizing after it started 'severely' listing off the Isle of Wight on Saturday night.
An investigation has now been launched and Southampton port director, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could be behind the incident which sparked a major search and rescue operation.
'There could be an element of human error. We won't know until the investigation is complete. There was potential if the action hadn't happened for the vessel to capsize,' he said.
A spokesman for ABP said: 'It is well established that these things can arise from human error. Not just the steering, it could be mechanical, human error or a combination of the two. But no one knows until the investigation is complete.'
Cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles was DELIBERATELY grounded off Isle of Wight after 'human error threatened it with capsizing'
By Jenny Awford for MailOnline
5 January 2015
Daily Mail
A 52,000-tonne cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles that was deliberately grounded by its crew could have been hit by problems before the incident as a result of human error, it was claimed today.
The pilot and master of the Hoegh Osaka took the decision to steer the ship onto a sandbank to prevent it from capsizing after it started 'severely' listing off the Isle of Wight on Saturday night.
An investigation has now been launched and Southampton port director, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could be behind the incident which sparked a major search and rescue operation.
'There could be an element of human error. We won't know until the investigation is complete. There was potential if the action hadn't happened for the vessel to capsize,' he said.
A spokesman for ABP said: 'It is well established that these things can arise from human error. Not just the steering, it could be mechanical, human error or a combination of the two. But no one knows until the investigation is complete.'
The ship has been grounded onto Bramble Bank off the south coast of England in the middle of the world's busiest shipping lane
An investigation has begun into why 52,000 tonne car transporter, the Hoegh Osaka, started 'severely' listing shortly after leaving the Port of Southampton, pictured this morning
Salvage tugs (pictured today) stay close to the stricken vessel the Hoegh Osaka after it ran aground on a sandbank in the Solent
An aerial view of boats surrounding the Hoegh Osaka which is believed to contain 1200 Jaguars and Land Rovers
A Red Funnel jet hi-speed ferry passes the cargo ship which is carrying 1,400 cars including a Rolls-Royce and 65 MINIs, pictured today
Southampton port boss, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could have played a part, pictured this morning
A passenger on the Red Funnel ferry looks towards the stricken vessel 'Hoegh Osaka' which was bound for Germany when it ran aground
The ship, carrying luxury cars including Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, is now listing at 52 degrees and a salvage operation has begun, which could take weeks
The ship is carrying an assortment of luxury British cars, including Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Land Rovers
All 25 crew members were rescued from the ship by the RNLI and coastguard and two were taken to hospital with minor inuries, including one who suffered a broken leg.
Salvage workers have now boarded the ship, which is carrying 65 MINIs and a Rolls-Royce Wraith worth £200,000, and the operation is expected to take weeks.
Captain John Noble, a marine salvage expert from Southampton, said something 'clearly went wrong' just 45 minutes after leaving Southampton.
He said: 'This is a matter which will be closely investigated because something clearly went wrong very quickly after she left the berth. That required drastic action to save the crew and the ship so it is unique from that point of view.
'The pilot would have had close knowledge of the water, so when the situation deteriorated, he would have had very good knowledge of the Bramble Bank, where it was advised to be the best place to beach the ship.
'I have never seen anything quite like this. They (salvage operations) are all quite different, but this one is more different from usual.
'It could well be there for a month.'
An aerial view of the ship, which its owners say was run deliberately grounded to prevent it from capsizing after it began listing
According to Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions - AIS Marine Traffic, the 52,000 ton vessel left Southampton and made a sharp left turn and ran aground
A salvage tug lights the hull of the stricken Hoegh Osaka cargo ship after it ran aground on a sand bank in the Solent in Cowes, England
The pilot and master of the Hoegh Osaka took the decision to steer the ship onto a sandbank - Bramble Bank - to prevent it from capsizing after it started 'severely' listing off the Isle of Wight on Saturday night.
An investigation has now been launched and Southampton port director, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could be behind the incident which sparked a major search and rescue operation.
'There could be an element of human error. We won't know until the investigation is complete. There was potential if the action hadn't happened for the vessel to capsize,' he said.
A spokesman for ABP said: 'It is well established that these things can arise from human error. Not just the steering, it could be mechanical, human error or a combination of the two. But no one knows until the investigation is complete.'
Cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles was DELIBERATELY grounded off Isle of Wight after 'human error threatened it with capsizing'
The Hoegh Osaka was deliberately grounded after it began 'severely listing' after leaving the Port of Southampton
Nick Ridehalgh of Associated British Ports said it was possible that human error may have played a part
Vessel is carrying 1,400 vehicles, including one Rolls-Royce Wraith, 65 MINIs and 1,200 Jaguars and Land Rovers
All 25 crew members were rescued on Saturday night by a coastguard helicopter and multiple RNLI lifeboats
It is understood one of the 25 crew may have sustained a broken leg during the incident off the Isle of Wight
Investigation has begun into why 52,000 ton car transporter developed problems and started listing
Owners Hoegh Autoliners praised 'skill' of the pilot and master who decided to steer ship into Bramble Bank
The ship is now listing at 52 degrees and a salvage operation has begun which could take weeks
Salvage experts will spend the next few days going on board the ship to establish if the valuable cargo had shifted
By Jenny Awford for MailOnline
5 January 2015
Daily Mail
A 52,000-tonne cargo ship carrying 1,200 Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles that was deliberately grounded by its crew could have been hit by problems before the incident as a result of human error, it was claimed today.
The pilot and master of the Hoegh Osaka took the decision to steer the ship onto a sandbank to prevent it from capsizing after it started 'severely' listing off the Isle of Wight on Saturday night.
An investigation has now been launched and Southampton port director, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could be behind the incident which sparked a major search and rescue operation.
'There could be an element of human error. We won't know until the investigation is complete. There was potential if the action hadn't happened for the vessel to capsize,' he said.
A spokesman for ABP said: 'It is well established that these things can arise from human error. Not just the steering, it could be mechanical, human error or a combination of the two. But no one knows until the investigation is complete.'
The ship has been grounded onto Bramble Bank off the south coast of England in the middle of the world's busiest shipping lane
An investigation has begun into why 52,000 tonne car transporter, the Hoegh Osaka, started 'severely' listing shortly after leaving the Port of Southampton, pictured this morning
Salvage tugs (pictured today) stay close to the stricken vessel the Hoegh Osaka after it ran aground on a sandbank in the Solent
An aerial view of boats surrounding the Hoegh Osaka which is believed to contain 1200 Jaguars and Land Rovers
A Red Funnel jet hi-speed ferry passes the cargo ship which is carrying 1,400 cars including a Rolls-Royce and 65 MINIs, pictured today
Southampton port boss, Nick Ridehalgh, from Associated British Ports said that it was possible that human error could have played a part, pictured this morning
A passenger on the Red Funnel ferry looks towards the stricken vessel 'Hoegh Osaka' which was bound for Germany when it ran aground
The ship, carrying luxury cars including Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, is now listing at 52 degrees and a salvage operation has begun, which could take weeks
The ship is carrying an assortment of luxury British cars, including Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Land Rovers
All 25 crew members were rescued from the ship by the RNLI and coastguard and two were taken to hospital with minor inuries, including one who suffered a broken leg.
Salvage workers have now boarded the ship, which is carrying 65 MINIs and a Rolls-Royce Wraith worth £200,000, and the operation is expected to take weeks.
Captain John Noble, a marine salvage expert from Southampton, said something 'clearly went wrong' just 45 minutes after leaving Southampton.
He said: 'This is a matter which will be closely investigated because something clearly went wrong very quickly after she left the berth. That required drastic action to save the crew and the ship so it is unique from that point of view.
'The pilot would have had close knowledge of the water, so when the situation deteriorated, he would have had very good knowledge of the Bramble Bank, where it was advised to be the best place to beach the ship.
'I have never seen anything quite like this. They (salvage operations) are all quite different, but this one is more different from usual.
'It could well be there for a month.'
An aerial view of the ship, which its owners say was run deliberately grounded to prevent it from capsizing after it began listing
A salvage tug lights the hull of the stricken Hoegh Osaka cargo ship after it ran aground on a sand bank in the Solent in Cowes, England
Read more: Cargo ship DELIBERATELY grounded off Isle of Wight to stop it from capsizing | Daily Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Last edited:
