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  5. 3.9 Grounding and salvage - General Average
  6. 3.9.1 Grounding
  7. 3.9.1.2 Evidence to be collected
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3.9.1.2 Evidence to be collected

Gard Guidance Masters

3.9.1.2 EVIDENCE TO BE COLLECTED

A. General information

  • Date and exact time of the grounding as recorded on the bridge and in the engine room, vessel’s local time and UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time)
  • position/location of the grounding
  • description of the part of the vessel aground
  • description of the area of the seabed where the grounding took place
  • courses (chart course, steered course, gyro and magnetic compass) at the time of the grounding
  • speed, propeller revolutions or propeller pitch of the vessel at the time of the grounding
  • rudder position at the time of the grounding
  • any alterations in course and/or speed immediately before the grounding and the exact time of such alteration
  • any communications including orders given to the engine room
  • any communications exchanged between the vessel and shore radio stations or traffic control centres
  • if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and the vessel’s command including helmsman prior to the grounding
  • if under pilotage, any communications between the pilot and tugs or shore radio stations or traffic control centres
  • any compass and/or radar bearings and distances to shore taken and recorded prior to the grounding
  • any helm or engine manoeuvres before and after the grounding and the times of such manoeuvres
  • prevailing weather conditions at the time of the grounding (keep any weather records)
  • prevailing tide and current at the time of the grounding
  • draught of the vessel at the time of the grounding
  • depth of water around the vessel
  • records of soundings of all vessel’s tanks taken prior to and after the grounding
  • cargo distribution at the time of the grounding and any subsequent changes.

    B. Navigation and communication equipment in use at the time of the grounding

  • Echo sounder and echo sounder trace – description and range used
  • radars – short description of radar settings and changes to settings with exact times prior to the incident
  • GPS systems – position recorded after button pressed (if done)
  • VHF – short description of its location on the bridge and channels operated at the time of the incident, any switches to other channels with exact times prior to the incident
  • electronic chart display – short description of the chart used and when last updated
  • any other navigation or communication equipment used to be described as above.

    C. Persons involved
    Name, rank, duties, whereabouts and contact details of

  • all persons attending the bridge at the time of the grounding
  • any lookouts not present on the bridge
  • any other eye witnesses to the grounding
  • engine room personnel on duty at the time of the grounding
  • any pilot on board at the time of the grounding, times of embarkation/disembarkation
  • other vessels/traffic in the vicinity.

    D. Documents to be retained

  • Deck logbook
  • bridge bell book or scrap log
  • engine logbook
  • engine bell book or scrap log
  • manoeuvre/course recorder printouts
  • chart used (paper or electronic) – do not tamper with or erase any marks/data
  • echo sounder trace printouts
  • deviation log
  • weather reports and logs
  • STCW records of working and rest hours of the Master, officers and crew on duty.

    Copies of the above together with copies of other trading documents will be taken by the lawyer or correspondent instructed on behalf of the Company, the Hull and Machinery and/or the P&I insurers.