Hong Kong Maritime Safety Note: Collision in the Yellow Sea

The Marine Department of the Government of Hong Kong has issued a note on a collision between a bulk carrier and a fishing vessel in the Yellow Sea.

A Hong Kong registered bulk carrier collided with a fishing vessel in the Yellow Sea, resulting in the sinking of the fishing vessel and the tragic loss of five fishermen, with six others reported missing. The note emphasizes lessons learned from the incident for shipowners, managers, operators, masters, officers, and crew.

The Incident:

1. Description: In the early morning amid cloudy weather and good visibility, a Hong Kong bulk carrier traveling northeast encountered a fishing vessel sailing westward. Despite attempts to avoid collision by altering course and reducing speed upon detecting the fishing vessel on radar, the vessels collided. This collision caused significant damage, sinking the fishing vessel and resulting in casualties among its crew.
2. Investigation Findings:

• Contributory Factors: The investigation identified multiple factors contributing to the collision:
  • Non-compliance with COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) rules, including failure to maintain safe speed and correctly assess the risk of collision.
  • Over-reliance on radar equipment, which did not effectively integrate other available means of navigation awareness.
  • Failure of both vessels to communicate effectively via VHF radio.
  • Inadequate supervision and training of the Officer on Watch (OOW) regarding navigational characteristics and collision prevention practices, particularly in complex maritime environments.

Lessons Learnt:

3. Recommendations: To prevent similar accidents in the future, the note recommends:

• Strict adherence to COLREGs rules to ensure safe navigation practices.
• Utilization of light and sound signals as per regulations to enhance visibility and awareness between vessels.
• Enhanced awareness of navigation environments, especially in areas with high traffic density or challenging weather conditions.
• Comprehensive training and supervision of OOWs to improve their ability to navigate safely and respond effectively to potential collision scenarios.
• Understanding the specific navigational characteristics and behaviors of fishing vessels to facilitate better decision-making during encounters at sea.

Conclusion:

4. Attention: Shipowners, managers, operators, masters, officers, and crew are urged to integrate these lessons into their operational practices to enhance maritime safety and mitigate the risk of similar incidents.

The note was issued on 20 June 2024.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Collision between a bulk carrier and a fishing vessel in the Yellow Sea