Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Evidence status: Official operational accounts; causes remain undetermined in the available accounts.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | FV Corail |
| Vessel Type | Fishing Vessel |
| Flag State | France [FR] |
| IMO Number | 9178147 |
| MMSI | 228106800 |
| Call Sign | FQAX |
| Gross Tonnage | |
| LOA (m) | 35 |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Year Built | |
| Other Vessel | Ain Snan Express |
| Other Vessel Type | Containership |
| Other Vessel Flag | Marshall Islands |
| Other Vessel Length | 366 m |
The prefecture describes Corail as 35 m long and Ain Snan Express as 366 m long. Corail's identification numbers are listed by Vesseltracker; the length in the official release is approximate. Prefecture release
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2022-08-10 |
| Notification Time | 01:33, as stated in the French official account |
| Location | Exit of the downbound lane of the Ouessant Traffic Separation Scheme, off Brittany, France |
| Coordinates | |
| Region | Atlantic Ocean |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- CROSS Corsen received notification at 01:33; the account does not give a separate precise collision time. Prefecture release
- Corail sustained bow indentation; Ain Snan Express had a 6 m by 1 m hull breach, 3.5 m above the waterline. Prefecture release
- No injuries were reported aboard either vessel. CROSS Corsen, p. 23
- Corail continued to Lorient; Ain Snan Express headed for repairs at Gibraltar before Singapore. Prefecture release
Narrative
Corail and Ain Snan Express collided during the night of 9–10 August 2022. CROSS Corsen received notification at 01:33. Its subsequent annual operational report places the collision at the exit of the downbound lane of the Ouessant Traffic Separation Scheme. The published accounts identify the two vessels and the damage, but do not describe their headings or manoeuvres immediately before contact. CROSS Corsen, p. 23
The approximately 35 m fishing vessel suffered an indentation to its bow. The 366 m containership sustained a hull breach measuring 6 m by 1 m, situated 3.5 m above the waterline. Neither vessel needed assistance to continue. Corail resumed its passage to Lorient, while Ain Snan Express proceeded toward Gibraltar for repairs before its intended onward voyage to Singapore. Both reported no injuries. Prefecture release
The prefecture recorded a northeast force 5 wind and sea state 4. These describe the conditions, without establishing a causal contribution. The Gendarmerie maritime de Lorient opened an investigation into the collision. Prefecture release
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| Night of 9–10 August 2022 | The vessels collided at the exit of the downbound lane. |
| 10 August, 01:33 | CROSS Corsen received notification. |
| After the collision | Both vessels continued without assistance, Corail toward Lorient and Ain Snan Express toward Gibraltar for repairs. |
Sequence: CROSS Corsen, p. 23 and prefecture release.
Investigation
The prefecture announced an investigation by the Gendarmerie maritime de Lorient. The release and CROSS Corsen annual report contain no final causal findings. The linked release is an operational announcement, rather than a completed investigation report. Prefecture release
References
- French maritime prefecture, 10 August 2022
- CROSS Corsen 2022 annual report, version 9 February 2023, p. 23
- Vesseltracker: FV Corail identification