USCG Safety Alert – Controllable Pitch Propellers

The Coast Guard issued a safety advisory titled “Controllable Pitch Propeller Systems and Situational Awareness“.  The alert was issued after the analysis of the Alaska Ranger sinking in the Bering Sea this past winter.  Investigators found that when the decision was made to abandon ship, the propellers were still turning with astern pitch.  The resulting astern movement of the ship cause the life rafts to drift past the bow of the vessel, and were unable to be retrieved using the painters.  As a result, there were not enough life rafts present for the entire crew, and a majority of crew members were forced to jump into frigid water, ultimately leading to the death of 4 people.  Although I agree that controllable pitch propellers were a contributing cause to this scenario, the same incident could have occurred with or without controllable pitch propellers.  If the ships crew had left the the ship in ahead or astern propulsion mode on a non-controllable pitch ship, the same thing would have happened.  Regardless, I think this casualty is worthy of a look, and reminds us that the master and the navigational watch must maintain awareness and positive control of the vessel for as long as safely possible, even when ordering abandon ship.