Classification
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Incident Type | Collision |
| Severity | Medium |
| Investigation Body | Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) |
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Vessel Name | Ice Rose |
| Vessel Names | Ice Rose; 311 Kazanets |
| Vessel Type | General Cargo |
| Flag State | Marshall Islands [MH] |
| IMO Number | 8311106 |
| Gross Tonnage | 12401 |
| LOA (m) | 144.630 |
| Breadth (m) | 23.650 |
| Other Involved Vessels | 311 Kazanets, Russian Navy anti-submarine ship |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Date | 2020-09-23 |
| Region | Baltic Sea |
| Location | One nautical mile south of Drogden Lighthouse, the Sound, Denmark |
| Coordinates | 55°30.249'N, 012°42.985'E |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | |
Key facts
- The collision occurred at 09:46 local time in dense fog with visibility of about 50 metres.
- Ice Rose was proceeding at about 14 knots before the close-quarters situation; 311 Kazanets was observed at about 12 knots immediately before impact.
- Ice Rose's third officer acquired 311 Kazanets at about 09:42 with a displayed closest point of approach of 0.02 nautical miles.
- Ice Rose sustained an approximately 13-metre longitudinal starboard-side hull penetration 3 to 4 metres above the waterline.
- DMAIB could not board 311 Kazanets, interview its crew or obtain its shipboard data, so several warship actions remained unverified.
Narrative
On 23 September 2020, the Marshall Islands-flagged refrigerated cargo ship Ice Rose was sailing in ballast from Saint Petersburg toward Falmouth for orders. Two Russian Navy anti-submarine ships were proceeding southwest in formation through the Sound, Denmark, while visibility deteriorated to about 50 metres in dense fog. At about 09:35, radar records showed the warships near the line of echoes from channel buoys, but neither had been identified as a collision-risk target on Ice Rose. At about 09:42, the third officer acquired 311 Kazanets and the radar indicated a closest point of approach of 0.02 nautical miles. At 09:45, the CPA alarm activated with less than one minute to collision. Ice Rose was then making about 13 knots and 311 Kazanets about 12 knots on a crossing course. The bow of 311 Kazanets struck Ice Rose's starboard side at about 09:46. The impact penetrated Ice Rose's hull longitudinally for approximately 13 metres, 3 to 4 metres above the waterline, and damaged a workshop, refrigeration-plant compartment, oil-lubricant tank and auxiliary systems. Ice Rose isolated the damaged compartment, reported no immediate pollution risk, and anchored near Drogden Lighthouse at about 10:15. Photographs showed visible damage on 311 Kazanets's starboard bow, but DMAIB could not inspect the warship. DMAIB concluded that navigational practices on both ships led to the collision. Its detailed findings for Ice Rose concerned bridge layout, division of work, radar configuration, late target recognition and limited avoidance action. The report does not establish personal casualty counts, vessel loss or monetary damage.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|
| 2020-09-23 09:35 local | Radar records showed the two Russian warships southwest-bound; neither was identified as a target on Ice Rose. |
| 2020-09-23 09:42 local | The third officer acquired 311 Kazanets with a displayed CPA of 0.02 nautical miles. |
| 2020-09-23 09:45 local | The CPA alarm activated with the vessels 0.55 nautical miles apart and less than one minute to collision. |
| 2020-09-23 09:46 local | 311 Kazanets's bow struck Ice Rose's starboard side. |
| 2020-09-23 10:15 local | Ice Rose anchored near Drogden Lighthouse after isolating the damaged compartment. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|
| Bridge layout and division of work | Confirmed finding | The bridge arrangement separated the master's and third officer's tasks and delayed a shared traffic picture. |
| Radar configuration and target acquisition | Confirmed finding | Relative-trail settings and selective target acquisition delayed recognition of 311 Kazanets among channel-buoy echoes. |
| Late and limited avoidance action | Confirmed finding | Once the collision risk was recognized at close quarters, minor course and speed changes could not prevent impact. |
Investigation
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board published the Ice Rose and 311 Kazanets marine accident report on 9 April 2021. DMAIB used Ice Rose's VDR and logbook records, vessel damage, Sound VTS data and independent radar information. It concluded that navigational practices on both ships led to the collision, while its detailed causal analysis focused on Ice Rose's bridge layout, radar configuration, division of work and late risk recognition. DMAIB did not have jurisdiction over the Russian warship and could not verify several parts of its later statement of fact.
References
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