The masters of two vessels that collided in the Humber during thick fog have been fined £3,000 each.
The smaller vessel Peggotty sank after it collided with the huge vehicle transport ship Petunia Seaway and the two men on board had to be rescued.
Both pleaded guilty to conduct endangering ships when they appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Friday.
Gwen Lancaster, surveyor in charge at the MCA’s Hull marine office, criticised both seamen.
She said: “I am both surprised and disappointed that this collision, which could easily have resulted in far worse consequences for those on board the Peggotty, occurred in the first place.”
“Both vessels were under the command of experienced professional captains who should have known better. This whole incident reflects complacency on their part in addition to a blatant disregard for the rules designed to prevent collisions occurring at sea.”
The court heard that at around 4.30am on May 19, last year, Peggotty, a 50ft vessel, had left Grimsby Docks making its way to Hull. Carlin was described as a professional master mariner and Humber pilot who was very experienced.
However, despite the thick fog, he failed to comply with a number of regulations to keep his and other vessels safe.
These included failing to make his vessel’s radar operational, failing to make sound signals and failing to ensure all the navigation lights were working. He was also relying on an untested mobile phone app rather than planning a suitable route.
At the same time the Petunia Seaway, a vehicle transport vessel 200 metres long and 34,000 tonnes, was making its way down the Humber towards Grimsby.
Neilsen was on the bridge and in charge. He allowed the vessel to proceed at 14 knots in zero visibility, without making sound signals. Mr Neilsen also failed to properly monitor and assess the ship’s radar to appreciate they were bearing down on the Peggotty.
Carlin had not realised the Peggotty was in the main shipping channel and was effectively blind to the collision course with the Petunia Seaway.
Just before 4.50am the two vessels collided almost head on. The Peggotty passed down the port side of the much larger Petunia Seaways, scraping down the side as it went.
The impact was enough to damage the hull of the Peggotty and it began to take on water.
Carlin was able to broadcast a mayday call and the two on board were picked up by a nearby pilot boat before the Peggotty sank and was lost.
District Judge Fred Rutherford said Carlin for his part had a ‘catalogue of failures’, while Neilsen’s actions were ‘insufficient’.
As well as fining both of them £3,000 each, Judge Rutherford also ordered Neilsen to pay £9,318.20 in costs as well as a £170 surcharge. Carlin was told he would have to pay £6,568 costs plus the £170 surcharge.
Ms Lancaster said: “We will prosecute those who endanger themselves and others in this way and our message is clear – there is no room for complacency where safety is concerned.”
“Masters of vessels must ensure they are properly prepared for the prevailing conditions and proceed in a safe manner whilst using all means of safe navigation at their disposal, to best effect.”
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Source: Hull Daily Mail
