MAIB Ali Ka investigation report

“Today, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report into the serious incident in October 2022 when the Ali Ka chemical tanker collided with the Oikos Jetty on the tidal Thames. The vessel was under PLA pilotage at the time of the collision. Fortunately, no one was hurt and no environmental damage occurred as a result of the incident.

“Navigational safety is the primary responsibility for the PLA and, alongside the MAIB’s investigation, we immediately conducted our own internal investigation which was completed in late 2022. Our internal review identified a number of lessons, which we have already implemented, and these actions have been referenced in the MAIB’s report. We have fully supported the MAIB’s investigation throughout.

“The PLA accepts the MAIB’s four recommendations for us and, by the end of this month, we will have implemented the first three recommendations.  The final MAIB recommendation relates to fatigue risk management, which raises issues which will need considering across the ports sector.  This includes understanding and codifying the balance between the organisation’s responsibilities and an individual employee’s responsibilities in managing fatigue risk.  We are currently reviewing our own existing fatigue management systems against this recommendation with relevant stakeholders."

Chief Executive Robin Mortimer and Chief Harbour Master James Stride