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Accidental breaker trip – DP undesired event

Comments from the Report:

The vessel was experiencing heavy rolling and pitching.  The watch keeping engineer lost his balance and his hand made contact with the No. 2 shaft generator breaker push button, thus opening the breaker and causing the loss of power.  The vessel has installed transparent covers over vulnerable breaker push buttons to avoid re-occurrence.

Considerations of the IMCA Marine DP Committee from the Above Event:

  • Although the incident could have been avoided by better protecting the breaker push-button, the DP system responded as designed.
  • Most regulatory authorities require covers to be fitted on emergency stops which have the potential to impact operations.
  • The vessel could have moved clear while still on Automatic DP, instead of changing to joystick control.
  • With only one generator on-line on each bus, failure of one may cause a partial black-out. It is assumed that this was included in the operational philosophy and activity specific planning.

DP Event

Published: 3 September 2019
Download: IMCA DPE 03/19

Classification:
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The following case studies and observations have been compiled from information received by IMCA. All vessel, client, and operational data has been removed from the narrative to ensure anonymity.

Case studies are not intended as guidance on the safe conduct of operations, but rather to assist vessel managers, DP operators and DP technical crew in appropriately determining how to safely conduct their own operations. Any queries should be directed to IMCA at dpreports@imca-int.com. Members and non-members alike are welcome to contact IMCA if they have experienced DP events which can be shared anonymously with the DP industry.

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