NTSB cites excessive speed, angle in Baltimore cruise ship allision

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The following is a marine accident brief from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB):

(WASHINGTON) — On the morning of May 8, 2016, at 0800 local time, the passenger vessel Carnival Pride was attempting to dock at the Cruise Maryland Terminal at South Locust Point in Baltimore, Md., when its bow struck the pier and fendering, along with an elevated passenger embarkation walkway on shore. The allision caused nearly $2.1 million in damages. The walkway was destroyed, three vehicles that were under the walkway as it collapsed were damaged, and the vessel sustained minor cosmetic damage. There were no injuries and no pollution was reported.

Probable cause

​The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the Carnival Pride’s allision with the pier and elevated passenger embarkation walkway was the staff captain’s errors during the docking maneuver ― approaching the pier with excessive speed and at too steep of an angle ― and the captain’s insufficient oversight during the maneuver.

Click here to read the complete report.

By Professional Mariner Staff