Solis-Marine

Services

Collisions and Groundings: Investigations and Litigation

Recent years have seen a rise in the number of criminal proceedings brought against masters and crews in relation to incidents at sea. Solis has recent experience in providing expert evidence in several such cases in courts in Asia, including a number of collision cases involving loss of life in 2013.

Another recent case of note involved the collision between the ‘YAO HAI’ and the ‘NEFTIGAZ 67’ which reached the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong; the judgment from which can be read here.

Solis consultants are able to provide expert advice with respect to the following aspects of collision and grounding incidents:

Navigation issues
Bridge management
Pilotage
Manoeuvring - All vessels types and size
Personal injury
VDR, ECDIS, AIS and VTIS analysis
2D and 3D simulation
Damage and repair surveys
Passage Planning
Pollution

Fixed Object Damage and Unsafe Ports / Berths

Fixed object damage (FOD) can involve port structures, bridges, breakwaters and floating platforms as well as cranes, ramps and ship loaders at the ship to shore interface. Mitigating high repair costs requires swift action to safeguard and secure evidence. It is also vital to gather forensic information and other data needed to determine probable causes and the extent of any damage and consequences.

In 2013 Solis consultants have been involved in arbitration and mediation hearings in relation to unsafe ports and berths in which computer modeling and electronic plotting have proved to be of particular importance.

Our areas of expertise include the following:

Site attendance
Forensic investigations
Temporary repairs
Berthing energy analysis
Consequential loss mitigation
Betterment evaluation
Fender and mooring assessments
Structural analysis
Quantum and schedules
Hazard and risk assessments
Bid evaluations
Expert reports

Salvage and Wreck Removal

Solis consultants have been involved in a number of high profile and politically sensitive wreck removal and salvage operations worldwide. In the past year Solis consultants have attended major marine casualties in France, China, Indonesia, Brazil and Singapore including a panamax container vessel, a passenger ship and a jack-up rig as well as capesize and panamax bulk carriers.

Specific areas of expertise are as follows:

Special Casualty Representative (SCR)
Salvage naval architecture
Ship to Ship (STS) operations
Salvage and wreck removal management
Tendering and bid evaluation
Salvage dangers investigation
Lightering, bunker, cargo removal and storage

Computer Animation of Shipping Incidents

The use of computer animation to simulate shipping incidents continues to become more important as a method of providing a quick and simple visual reproduction of actual events or alternative scenarios. Using VDR, ECDIS and witness statements Solis utilises the latest graphical software and automated processes to produce computer animations that are easy to follow, flexible and importantly, cost effective.

In 2013 Solis animations were used in a high profile criminal trial in Indonesia as well as in mediation and arbitration hearings in the UK. With VDR and ECDIS becoming critical to investigations, computer animation can be invaluable from initial case preparation through to final hearings.

Complexity can be tailored according to budget and examples of the application of these graphical representations are provided below:

Collisions
Jetty / berth allisions
VDR, ECDIS, AIS and VTIS data presentation
Salvage – illustration of salvage methods and ship condition
Wreck removal – demonstration of methodology and feasibility
Navigational issues and chart plotting
Internal arrangements and damage

Strength and Stability Investigations

Solis is able to provide technical advice in relation to a range of stability and strength issues which include the following:

Cargo shifting
Flooding
Grounding
Cargo loss
Securing and lashing

Damage to Subsea Pipelines

This work has involved analysis of the vessel’s positioning data, weather conditions and plotting of the positions in relation to the as-laid pipeline. Both 2D and 3D animations have proved useful in illustrating the chain of probable events. The type, size and capacity of the vessel’s anchoring system including windlass, chain and anchor is considered when drafting the touch down positions of the anchor and chain, penetration of the sea bed, pipeline positioning, seabed scarring, burial depth and cover as well as any dragging of the anchor. Expert evidence has been given in Court in this regard.