Marine Accident Brief: Sinking of Towing Vessel Nalani
Executive Summary
About
1510 local time on January 22, 2015, the uninspected towing vessel
Nalani began taking on water and sank in 2,200 feet of water while
conducting sea trials off the southwest coast of Oahu, Hawaii.
All 11
persons on board were rescued after abandoning the vessel. No one was
injured. An oil sheen was observed by responders and crewmembers.
The
vessel was not salvaged due to the water depth and was declared a total
constructive loss.
Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable
cause of the flooding and eventual sinking of the Nalani was the
captain’s decision to get under way without sufficient freeboard at the
stern and without ensuring proper watertight integrity.