- Yacht-Tanker Crash Leaves Crew Injured, Legal Battle Follows.
- Crew Sues Over Injuries in Bahamas Collision, Captain’s Negligence Questioned.
- Oil Spill and Injuries Spark Trial in High-Profile Maritime Incident.
In the late hours of the evening of December 23, 2021, a 64-meter yacht moving at 20 knots crashed into an oil tanker in the Bahamas. The oil tanker sank within twenty minutes, spilling its entire fuel load into the sea. Apart from the ecological catastrophe, some crew members were injured, and legal proceedings soon ensued, reports Dockwalk.
Legal Action by Injured Crew
Three crew members — the chief engineer, the electrical technical officer (ETO), and a deckhand sued the owners of the yacht for unseaworthiness, unpaid cure and maintenance under the Jones Act rules, attorney fees, and damages. Separate complaints were directed at the captain for negligence, notably for a separate incident when the ship almost ran aground when brought back into port following the collision.
Trial and Allegations of Negligence
Hailed by a prominent maritime law firm that handles crew advocacy, the case went to trial in Miami in April 2025. Evidence came to light during testimony that the captain allegedly abandoned the bridge for 15 minutes to mingle with passengers, leaving a less-than-qualified bosun in command. Medical specialists and character witnesses testified against the plaintiffs, with tactics said to have been employed to stall proceedings. The trial heard of injuries to the crew before, during, and after the collision.
Crew Injuries Detailed
- ETO: When making repairs in the main salon, the ETO was thrown against a cabinet and onto the floor during the collision. Following securing the engine room and assisting in guest evacuation, he was injured again on the aft deck. His injuries involved fractured bones in his foot and ruptured ligaments, which later resulted in severe hip complications and required surgery.
- Deckhand: Having worked in the galley during the collision, the deckhand had minor injuries to his leg and foot.
- Chief Engineer: The chief engineer had experienced a series of injuries throughout the summer, which were further added to by events in December 2021 and beyond.
Responsibility and Future Proceedings
The case is also raising very serious questions about the owners’, private management companies’, crew agencies’, and most importantly, the captain’s responsibility for ensuring crew welfare and vessel safety. In the meantime, reports say that the Bahamian government is considering laying criminal charges in connection with the environmental damage the spill has wrought. This saga is far from over.
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Source: Dockwalk
