Four Dutch crew members of the Van Oord dredger Vox Maxima have pleaded guilty to failing to discharge their duties properly in connection with the allision with the Marine Honour, a Singapore-flagged bunker vessel, which occurred on June 14, 2024.
The collision resulted in a significant oil spill, with approximately 400 tons of oil being discharged into the sea. The spill affected several locations along Singapore’s southern coastline, including beaches at Labrador Nature Reserve, Sentosa, and East Coast Park. The resulting environmental damage prompted extensive clean-up operations, which took over two months, and the full environmental impact is still being assessed.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a sudden loss of engine and steering control on the Vox Maxima, which the crew allegedly failed to handle properly. Authorities claimed the crew did not ensure emergency steering was performed when emergency power was available for the vessel’s steering gear, ultimately resulting in the collision.
Additionally, key engineering watch officers were accused of failing to maintain adequate power reserves for the steering gear when the engine room was put on standby.
The four crew members each pleaded guilty to one charge under the Merchant Shipping Act. The sentencing has been scheduled for April 2, 2025.
