CHIRP published its 56th edition of Maritime Feedback focusing on reports concerning seafarers’ fatigue and its impacts. In this report a fisherman had to cut its anchor ropes and fishing lines in light of a fast-approaching drifting tug.
Namely, the fisherman reports to CHIRP that their fishing boat was anchored on a fishing mark; The vessel was equipped with a radio, a ‘radar sounder’ transmitter and was exhibiting a black anchor ball and an anchor light at night, to indicate that l was at anchor.
The fisherman continues that before dawn, he noticed a vessel passing up and down for several hours. The fisherman thought that the vessel navigating close by had already noticed the fishing boat, ‘since my anchor light is quite bright.‘
The fisherman continues
Later, during another check on vessels around me, I noted that this particular vessel was now about 2-3 miles to the west of me.
The reporter adds that on a next check the vessel was sailing towards the fishing boat at a distance of no more than 100 yards and was approaching fast; Although he shouted to the approaching vessel and used the foghorn, the fisherman alleged that there was no movement from the other vessel.
As l was rapidly running out of time l decided to take what action l could – there was no time to raise the anchor and so l started the engine and cut the anchor rope. My fishing lines were still deployed, and so I was unable to retrieve them.
The reported managed to motor away as the other vessel continued to drift, apparently unaware of the near miss.
During this incident, the fisherman tried to call the vessel on VFH Channel 16, then Channel 12 (the local shipping channel) but there was no reply. He then sailed towards the harbour.
CHIRP informs that the reported notified the Harbour Master’s office as the near miss occurred within their jurisdiction. In the meantime, the Harbour Master managed to talk with the vessel’s owner, who then responded:
We have looked at this incident in depth including interviewing the captain. We have concluded from the information available to us that although the vessel was close to you, the watchkeeper was fully aware of your position and due to the good conditions, continued to drift as the CPA would not get any closer. He commented that he had not witnessed anyone onboard. Additionally, the VHF was continuously monitored, and nothing was heard from yourself or the local VTS.
Concluding, CHIRM recommends:
- All vessels must maintain a proper lookout at all times.
- Perception of risk differs depending on aspect – the view from an enclosed wheelhouse fitted with ARPA and ECDIS is very different from that of a pleasure boat with a height of eye of only 1.5m.
- For both vessels, engines should be at immediate readiness. In addition, timely VHF communications are prudent and useful but if a situation requires immediate action then VHF calls are probably not the best use of the available time.
In its 56th edition of Maritime Feedback, CHIRP published a report concerning a cruise vessel’s near miss accident when entering a port, when the vessel’s port stabilizer didn’t work and the crew had to manually enable the vessel’s entrance into the port.