On 7 May 2013 at 22:59 the cargo ship Jolly Nero, following a failure of its main engine, hit the Pilots’ Tower of the port of Genoa at a speed of about 3 knots, causing it to collapse. The accident cost the lives of nine people and resulted in the criminal conviction of the Jolly Nero’s Captain, Chief Engineer and First Officer.
Shedding light on the horrific incident, this book provides the lessons learned from the Jolly Nero, with the hope that they will lead pilotage organizations, shipping companies and port authorities to exercise due diligence, in order to prevent accidents and withstand the increasing level of scrutiny of courts of law.
In fact, giving emphasis on the prevention of such incidents in the future, the Jolly Nero incident makes it an obligation for the shipping industry. This is in a sense that if what happened on that evening does not eventually lead to improvements to safety of navigation in confined waters, then the tragic loss of lives in the rubble of the Genoa Pilots’ Tower will have been in vain.
This is the reason why Mr. Di Lieto believes that everyone in the maritime sector has a duty and need to learn from the Jolly Nero accident, so as to work towards a diligent pilotage.
As Antonio Di Lieto describes in his book, the Jolly Nero incident and its catastrophic consequences, revealed “the operations of the entire sociotechnical system in which it occurs, creating a window of opportunity for improving safety.”
Following the tragedy:
- The captain of the “Jolly Nero”, was sentenced to 10 years and four months in jail, half the term sought by the prosecution (which had asked for a 20-year and six-month sentence);
- Genoa port pilot received four years and two months (10 years and six months was the sentence sought by the prosecution);
- First officer received eight years and six months (the sentence recommended by the prosecution was 10 years and six months).
- Chief engineer received a seven year jail sentence (the prosecution had asked for a 10 year-and-six month sentence).
The four men were found guilty of multiple culpable homicide, and causing a building collapse.
