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


Updates to this page

Published 23 January 2015