Two fishermen killed, four missing after collision with bulk carrier

Hong Kong’s Marine Department published an accident report, according to which two fishermen were killed and four missing after their fishing vessel collided with a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier in the coastal sea of the Republic of Korea.

The Incident

According to the report, a Hong Kong registered bulk carrier collided with a fishing vessel in the coastal sea of the Republic of Korea. The fishing vessel capsized, whereas four out of the seven fishermen went missing. Meanwhile, the coxswain and two fishermen were rescued at sea, but only the former survived.

Probable Cause

Based on the investigation’s results, the main, key factors of the accident were:

1. Before the collision, none of the two vessels were aware of the risk of collision or even for the presence of the other vessel. Also, both of the vessels didn’t comply with the requirement of Rule 5 (Look-out) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 (COLREGS), i.e. failed to maintain a proper look-out by sight and utilize a radar to plot and check other vessels in the vicinity to determine the risk of collision;
2. The master of the bulk carrier didn’t comply with the requirement of the Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (the STCW Code), which requires that the officer in charge of the navigational watch should not be assigned to undertake any other duties which would interfere with the safe navigation of the ship. Being the sole lookout person on the bridge at that time, the second officer of the vessel carried out the master’s assignment to calculate the distances for the coming voyages and violated the STCW Code’s requirement

Lessons Learned

1. All masters, officers and crew of sea-going ships have to follow the Rules of COLREGS and Section A/VIII-2 of the STCW Code at all times, particularly to the requirements of maintaining an adequate composition of a navigational watch on the bridge and a proper lookout all the time.
2. Coxswains of fishing vessels should also comply with the Rules of COLREGS all the time, particularly to the requirements of maintaining a proper lookout at all times

This Note draws the attention of shipowners, ship managers, ship operators, masters, officers, and crew including coxswains of fishing vessels to the lessons learnt from this accident.