Grounding is one of the most common marine accidents and occurs when a ship comes into contact with the seabed. If the vessel remains stuck on the seabed for an extended period, the incident is referred to as stranding. Both grounding and stranding can cause significant structural damage to the ship and may result in environmental pollution, especially if fuel or cargo leaks into the sea.

The severity of a grounding depends on several factors, including the nature of the seabed (rocky, sandy, or muddy), sea conditions, the vessel’s speed, and the extent of structural damage. Even if no visible damage is immediately apparent, grounding can impose extremely high stresses on the ship’s hull and keel, potentially weakening the vessel’s structural integrity.

Grounding incidents may lead to several serious consequences, including:

• Loss of human life.
• Environmental pollution, particularly when oil tankers or chemical carriers are involved.
• Economic losses for nearby coastal communities.
• Heavy financial losses for shipowners due to repairs, salvage costs, cargo damage, legal penalties, and operational delays.

The following actions should normally be taken after a grounding incident:

• Stop the engines immediately and sound the general alarm.
• Check all double-bottom tanks, ballast tanks, cofferdams, and other compartments for signs of damage or water ingress.
• Close all watertight doors and prepare the vessel for possible refloating.
• Assess hull damage and evaluate the vessel’s stability.
• Examine the condition of the cargo and determine whether it has shifted or sustained damage.
• Determine the depth of surrounding water, seabed characteristics, and the direction of deeper water.
• Prepare lifeboats and other emergency equipment if evacuation becomes necessary.
• Carry out de-ballasting if appropriate and, where feasible, prepare to jettison cargo to reduce the vessel’s draft.
• Check for any signs of oil pollution and immediately implement pollution prevention procedures.
• Close sea chest valves and temporarily secure the rudder if required.
• Monitor tidal conditions carefully and keep the engines on standby for possible refloating operations.
• Inform the shipowner, coastal authorities, and other relevant organizations, providing regular updates.
• Display the prescribed aground lights and day shapes in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).