On June 21, 2018, at 04:00pm local time (UTC +2), the vessel Fidelity was moored at berth number 4 of the Bršica terminal in the Raša port basin, under the jurisdiction of the Port Authority of Rijeka. The vessel’s purpose for docking was the loading of livestock, along with the planned bunkering of approximately 320 tons of residual marine fuel.
INA – Industrija nafte, d.d., as one of the licensed concessionaires for fuel supply operations in the port area of Rijeka (excluding the Omišalj basin), was selected as the fuel supplier for Fidelity.
Bunkering operations from tank trucks commenced on June 21, 2018, at approximately 11:20pm and were carried out by employees of Manšped d.o.o., Gržinčić d.o.o., and Tehno-prom Rijeka d.o.o. After fuel was transferred from the first three tank trucks, the next truck had not yet arrived at the port. The drivers of the emptied tank trucks left the port area, and the ship’s crew abandoned their watch positions during the bunkering operation, leaving the fueling hose connected, the fuel intake valve open, and the fuel tank number 4 valve open.
When the fourth and fifth tank trucks arrived at the terminal, the fuel transport workers resumed bunkering operations without notifying the ship’s crew. Near the end of the transfer from the fifth tank truck, fuel tank number 4 overfilled, causing fuel to spill onto the deck and subsequently into the sea.
As a result of this incident, the vessel was contaminated, and serious pollution of the sea and marine environment of Raša Bay occurred due to the residual marine fuel spill. The pollution also affected nearby small boats and a shellfish farm in the vicinity. There were no injuries or fatalities among the ship’s crew, fuel transport workers, or any other individuals.
Safety Recommendations Related to the Fuel Spill Incident on the Ship Fidelity
✓ AIN05-SR-1/2020
Mary Marine Ltd is recommended to ensure that all information regarding the Safety Management System is available to the ship’s crew in a working language or another language they can understand.
✓ AIN05-SR-2/2020
Mary Marine Ltd is recommended to establish and maintain training or other means of familiarizing the ship’s crew with the Safety Management System, its implementation, and its application in daily operations.
✓ AIN05-SR-3/2020
Mary Marine Ltd is recommended to update the Fuel Bunkering Operations procedure to include guidelines on handling temporary suspensions of fuel supply to the vessel.
✓ AIN05-SR-4/2020
Mary Marine Ltd is recommended to regulate crew training for oil spill incidents at intervals no longer than three months and to mandate training and familiarization with the details of the operation and duties of all crew members involved before each planned fuel bunkering operation.
✓ AIN05-SR-5/2020
INA – Industrija nafte, d.d. is recommended to ensure the effective and consistent implementation of legal, regulatory, and concession-related provisions, with a focus on procedures in cases of potential concession transfers or the delegation of concession-related rights to third parties, ensuring compliance with these provisions by any third parties involved.
✓ AIN05-SR-6/2020
INA – Industrija nafte, d.d. is recommended to ensure the presence of a competent professional throughout the entire fuel bunkering operation from vehicles, who must be proficient in English or another language in which they can effectively communicate with the ship’s crew.
✓ AIN05-SR-7/2020
The Port Authority of Rijeka is recommended to conduct increased supervision of concession holders handling hazardous or polluting substances, as well as those providing security services, to ensure that concession activities are carried out in compliance with binding legal, regulatory, and concession provisions.
✓ AIN05-SR-8/2020
The Ministry of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure is recommended to amend and supplement the Regulations on Handling Dangerous Substances, Conditions and Methods of Marine Transport, Loading and Unloading of Dangerous Goods, Bulk and Other Cargo in Ports, and Methods for Preventing the Spread of Spilled Oils in Ports to mandate the use of a safety checklist specifically adapted for fuel bunkering operations from vehicles and terminals (similar to the Safety Checklist for Bunkering from Another Vessel).