It is astounding that with all the modern navigation and vessel information technology on board ships that a tanker and bulk carrier can collide in the highly controlled English Channel. But this is what happened on 1 July this year.
Seafrontier collision:
In good weather and calm seas, but at night, there was a collision between Seafrontier tanker and bulk carrier Huayang Endeavor in the Dover traffic separation system. According to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Royal National Lifeboat Institute, Seafrontier (2011-built, 48,580 dwt) was carrying 38,000 tonnes of petroleum to Guatemala and suffered a hole above the waterline and damage to the superstructure. It was moved to Antwerp, Belgium after the incident.
The 225m Huayan Endeavor (2013-built, 75,492 dwt) was on its way to Lagos in Nigeria and was also damaged. It was towed to Dunkirk, France after the accident. Both vessels were registered in Hong Kong and had Chinese and Indian crew, none of which were injured during the incident. There was no pollution from the collision.
Question raised over ECDIS:
Questions will be asked about how this happened in a traffic separation scheme and with modern navigation equipment. It is not known whether either or both ships had ECDIS or Automatic Identification System equipment on board, or if it was set up properly to alert watchkeepers.
Live traffic feed update:
This is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, but is managed with a traffic separation scheme and fed with regular information through the Channel Navigation Information Service. These are setup to ensure safe passage of vessels through the Dover Strait.
Various questions raised:
There will be questions of who was manning the bridge of these ships and whether the watchkeepers were alert enough. There will be questions over whether there were any alarms set for the proximity to vessels and hazards, and questions of whether the ships communicated with each other before the collision.
Investigation launched:
The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch has begun an investigation into the collision between Seafrontier and Huayang Endeavor. It will be interesting reading once the report is published, but this could take several months.
Watchkeepers need to step up their vigil:
One conclusion that we can take from the accident is that watchkeepers need to be more alert, especially during darkness and look out of the bridge window as well as at the bridge electronics.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Marine Electronics & Communications
