Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Primary Source: Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping marine accident report
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Corvus J |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Cyprus [CY] |
| IMO Number | 9262895 |
| Gross Tonnage | 6370 |
| LOA (m) | 134.06 |
| Breadth (m) | 19.40 |
| Year Built | 2002 |
| Crew Size | 12 |
| Other vessel | Baltic Ace, Ro-Ro / Car Carrier; Bahamas [BS]; IMO 9386213; 23498 GT; LOA 147.93 m; 24 crew |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2012-12-05 |
| Location | 39 nautical miles southwest of Rotterdam, North Sea |
| Coordinates | 51.865000, 2.898333 |
| Region | North Sea |
| Fatalities | 5 |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | 6 |
| Vessels Lost | 1 |
| Direct Damage | Corvus J bow damage; Baltic Ace side penetration, flooding, and sinking |
Key facts
- Corvus J and Baltic Ace collided at about 18:15 local time on 5 December 2012, at 51°51.9' N, 002°53.9' E.
- Corvus J was a Cyprus-registered container ship; Baltic Ace was a Bahamas-registered Ro-Ro car carrier.
- Baltic Ace listed to starboard and sank at about 18:30, approximately 15 minutes after the collision.
- Thirteen Baltic Ace crew members were rescued, five were recovered dead, and six remained missing.
- The Cyprus investigation identified the most probable cause as the officers on watch failing to understand each other's intentions.
Narrative
On 5 December 2012, Corvus J was proceeding from Grangemouth to Antwerp with 12 crew members and 73 containers. The Cyprus-registered container ship was 134.06 metres long, 6,370 gross tons, and had been built in 2002. Baltic Ace was proceeding from Zeebrugge to Kotka, Finland, with 24 crew members and 1,417 vehicles. It was a Bahamas-registered Ro-Ro car carrier of 23,498 gross tons and 147.93 metres LOA.
The vessels met in a crossing situation in the North Sea, 39 nautical miles southwest of Rotterdam. The bridge teams communicated by VHF, but the officers on watch did not establish a shared understanding of the intended manoeuvres. Baltic Ace altered to port while Corvus J altered further to starboard. Both vessels made late emergency manoeuvres, but Corvus J's bow penetrated Baltic Ace's side at about 18:15 local time. The collision position was approximately 51°51.9' N, 002°53.9' E.
Baltic Ace listed to starboard, flooded, and sank at about 18:30, around 15 minutes after the collision. The response recovered 13 crew members alive. Five crew members were recovered dead and six remained missing. The report does not provide a clear all-crew injury count for Baltic Ace survivors. Corvus J sustained bow damage, while Baltic Ace suffered side penetration, flooding, and sinking. The investigation did not provide a financial damage estimate.
The Cyprus Department of Merchant Shipping determined that the most probable cause was the failure of the officers on watch to understand each other's intentions. The report also identified poor bridge manning and the amount of available bridge information as safety issues. It discussed the vulnerability of car carriers after side penetration and recommended that related issues be raised with the International Maritime Organization.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012-12-05 18:15 local | Corvus J's bow penetrated the side of Baltic Ace. |
| 2012-12-05 18:30 local | Baltic Ace listed to starboard and sank. |
| 2012-12-05 | Thirteen crew members were rescued, five were recovered dead, and six remained missing. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to establish shared manoeuvring intentions | Confirmed finding | The investigation identified the officers on watch failing to understand each other's intentions as the most probable cause. |
| Ineffective VHF communication | Confirmed finding | The vessels communicated by VHF, but their exchanges did not produce a common understanding of the passing manoeuvres. |
| Bridge manning and information use | Reported | The report identified poor bridge manning and the amount of available bridge information as contributing safety issues. |
Investigation
The Department of Merchant Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus investigated the collision in marine accident reports 92A/2012 and 1043/2013. The investigation found that the officers on watch did not understand each other's intentions and identified bridge manning and information-management issues for further safety attention.