Collision between general cargo vessel Scot Venture and scallop dredger Golden Promise
Location: 4 miles north of Buckie, Moray Firth, Scotland.
Completed PE Summary: Scot Venture/Golden Promise
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Scot Venture |
| Manager | Intrada Ships Management Ltd |
| Ship Owner | Scot Venture Shipping Ltd |
| Port of Registry | Inverness |
| Flag | UK |
| Classification Society | Germanischer Lloyd |
| Type | General cargo |
| Built | 2002, Tille Holland |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 89.98m |
| Gross Tonnage | 2594 |
| Date and Time | 13/9/2008, 1400 (UTC) |
| Location of Incident | 4 miles north of Buckie on Moray Firth |
| Incident Type | Collision |
| Persons Onboard | 8 |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | Superficial/None |
| Fishing Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel name | Golden Promise |
| Manager | Whitelink Seafoods Ltd |
| Vessel Owner | Seacrest Fishing Co Ltd |
| Port of Registry | Fraserburgh |
| Flag | UK |
| Type | Beam trawler/scallop dredger |
| Built | 1996, Newhaven |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 14.20m |
| Gross Tonnage | 22.80 |
| Date and Time | 13/9/2008, 1400 (UTC) |
| Location of Incident | 4 miles north of Buckie on Moray Firth |
| Incident Type | Collision |
| Persons Onboard | 4 |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | None/None |
Synopsis
At 1400 UTC on 13 September 2008 Scot Venture collided with the fishing vessel Golden Promise in the Moray Firth in conditions of clear visibility and broad daylight.
The officer of the watch onboard Scot Venture had become engrossed in carrying out chart corrections, rather than carrying out his prime task as OOW and keeping a good lookout. Additionally, he omitted to utilise the available watchkeeping and radar alarms, which might have reminded him of his watchkeeping duties and alerted him to the vessel ahead.
The skipper of Golden Promise observed the merchant ship close from a distance and assumed that the vessel would keep clear. Latterly, when it became apparent that the vessel was not altering course, he tried to attract its attention by radio, but this was malfunctioning and was heard by other stations to be breaking up.
Last minute evasive actions, taken by the oncoming watch officer on Scot Venture, proved unsuccessful, and the merchant vessel struck the trawler’s derrick. Fortunately the derrick’s preventer stay parted, saving Golden Promise from major damage or capsize.
Action taken
The managers of Scot Venture issued a fleet circular to all their vessels notifying them of the accident and of the need to keep a proper lookout at all times.
The owners of Golden Promise have serviced the vessel’s VHF radio and intend to fit an AIS-B, which will identify other vessels by their AIS signal and transmit Golden Promise’s identity to them.
Additionally, the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the owners of Scot Venture recommending the company put measures in place to ensure company and masters’ standing orders are complied with at all times and that navigational and ancillary bridge equipment is used to best advantage.
The Chief inspector has also written to the owners of Golden Promise advising them of the need for fishing vessels to take avoiding action in ample time, if a give way vessel fails in her obligations, and the need for an effective vessel induction for new skippers.
Published: November 2008