Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Evidence status: Final NTSB marine investigation report, supported by U.S. Coast Guard rescue release
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | FV Tremont |
| Vessel Type | Fishing Vessel |
| Flag State | United States [US] |
| IMO Number | 7037894 |
| Official Number | 529154 |
| Gross Tonnage | 399 GRT |
| LOA (m) | 34.9 |
| Breadth (m) | 12.8 |
| Power (kW) | 895 |
| Owner/Operator | Tremont Fisheries, LLC |
| Year Built | 1970 |
| Other Vessel | MSC Rita |
| Other Vessel Type | Containership |
| Other Vessel Flag | Panama |
| Other Vessel IMO Number | 9289116 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2022-10-28 |
| Time | 00:36 EDT |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean, 55 nautical miles southeast of Chincoteague, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37.6120, -74.2452 |
| Region | United States |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Persons on Board | 13 on Tremont; 22 on MSC Rita |
| Cargo Loss | Nearly 500,000 lb of fish cargo; report value USD 750,000 |
| Direct Damage | USD 4.75 million estimated for Tremont; USD 1.5 million estimated for MSC Rita |
| Economic Damage | USD 6.25 million combined vessel-damage estimate |
| Environmental Damage | Small oil sheen; maximum diesel release estimated at 31,000 gallons |
| Insured Loss | |
| Salvage/Cleanup Cost |
Key facts
- Tremont's hull was damaged on the port side and bow, and the vessel sank bow-first at about 04:20.
- The Coast Guard and good Samaritan vessels rescued all 13 people from Tremont; no injuries were reported.
- The U.S. Coast Guard's initial release described the location as approximately 63 miles southeast of Chincoteague; the NTSB final report gives 55 nautical miles and exact coordinates.
Narrative
On the night of 27 October 2022, the fishing vessel Tremont was returning north-northeast after retrieving its gear, while the Panamanian-flagged containership MSC Rita sailed southbound. At about 0029 EDT on 28 October, Tremont crossed ahead of MSC Rita at a distance of approximately 2.3 nautical miles. A few minutes later Tremont turned back toward the containership. MSC Rita’s second officer sounded warning signals and then maneuvered hard to port, but Tremont struck the ship’s starboard side about 20 seconds later, roughly 200 feet aft of the bow. Tremont’s mate told investigators he was troubleshooting the gyrocompass and did not see MSC Rita on radar or visually until just before impact (NTSB, pp. 4–6, 9–10).
The collision damaged Tremont’s port bow and side. After the crew gathered in the galley for about 10 minutes, a crewmember found water on the factory floor above the fish hold; flooding later reached the main deck, and the crew could not establish the source of the rapid ingress. The captain initially assessed the damage with the mate, then ordered the crew to muster as flooding continued. At 0148 she transmitted a distress call, but Coast Guard watchstanders ashore received only a weak, unreadable transmission. She subsequently used a satellite phone to call 911 and relay the emergency and position. The research vessel Atlantis and fishing vessel Drysten responded to the distress call and reached the scene at about 0300. MSC Rita also returned after hearing the later mayday call (NTSB, pp. 6–8, 12–13).
At about 0410, 12 of Tremont’s 13 crew abandoned ship in a liferaft. The mate stayed aboard to free the raft’s sea painter after it became entangled in the boarding ladder. As Tremont listed and its bow submerged, he was washed overboard and hoisted from the water by a Coast Guard helicopter. The other 12 survivors were transferred to Drysten. Tremont sank bow-first at about 0420. All 13 people were rescued and no injuries were reported. The report describes a small oil sheen and estimates that up to 31,000 gallons of diesel fuel may have been released. It estimates vessel damage at USD 4.75 million for Tremont and USD 1.5 million for MSC Rita (NTSB, pp. 1–2, 8–9).
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-27 19:00 EDT | Tremont was underway after retrieving its fishing gear; the mate later stood watch alone in the wheelhouse. |
| 2022-10-28 00:29 EDT | Tremont passed ahead of MSC Rita at a distance of about 2.3 nautical miles. |
| 2022-10-28 00:32:20 EDT | Tremont turned back toward MSC Rita. |
| 2022-10-28 00:36:05 EDT | MSC Rita switched to hand steering and came hard to port. About 20 seconds later, Tremont struck MSC Rita's starboard side. |
| 2022-10-28 01:48 EDT | Tremont's captain transmitted a distress call. Nearby vessels arrived at about 03:00 EDT. |
| 2022-10-28 04:10 EDT | Twelve crew members abandoned Tremont into a liferaft; the mate remained aboard to free its entangled sea painter. |
| 2022-10-28 04:20 EDT | Tremont sank bow-first. |
| 2022-10-28 06:00 EDT | The 12 survivors aboard Drysten were transferred to a Coast Guard motor lifeboat and taken to Chincoteague. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lookout and autopilot use | Confirmed finding | NTSB determined that the Tremont mate did not maintain a proper lookout and kept the autopilot engaged while troubleshooting the gyrocompass, causing the vessel to turn into MSC Rita's path (p. 13). |
| Distraction and AIS display | Confirmed finding | NTSB found that the mate was distracted by gyrocompass troubleshooting; Tremont's AIS was transmitting but not displaying properly, and the mate did not detect MSC Rita on radar or visually until immediately before the collision (pp. 4–5, 11–13). |
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board published Marine Investigation Report MIR-23-27 on 18 December 2023. The NTSB determined the probable cause as the Tremont mate's failure to maintain a proper lookout while troubleshooting the gyrocompass with the autopilot engaged. The report also notes that the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia assisted the investigation.
References
- NTSB Marine Investigation Report MIR-23-27
- NTSB investigation summary and probable cause
- U.S. Coast Guard rescue release