Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Sinokor Incheon |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Republic of Korea [KR] |
| IMO Number | 8706650 |
| Gross Tonnage | 3489 |
| LOA (m) | 108.45 |
| Breadth (m) | 18.00 |
| Year Built | 1987 |
| Crew Size | 17 |
| Power (kW) | 5655 |
| Other vessel | Toshimaru, fishing vessel; Japanese registration YG3-39849; 4.97 GT; one skipper |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2016-02-19 |
| Location | East off Hime Shima, Himeshima Village, Oita Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 33.735000, 131.828333 |
| Region | Japan |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Vessels Lost | 1 |
| Direct Damage | Sinokor Incheon abrasions on bulbous bow; Toshimaru hole and cracks in port-side center shell plating, capsized, total loss |
Key facts
- The collision occurred at about 23:56 local time on 19 February 2016 east of Hime Shima, Oita Prefecture.
- Sinokor Incheon was proceeding east with 17 crew members; Toshimaru was proceeding north-northwest with only its skipper on board.
- Toshimaru sustained a hole and cracks in its port-side center shell plating, capsized, and became a total loss.
- Toshimaru's skipper died by drowning; the report records no injuries on Sinokor Incheon.
- JTSB found it probable that Sinokor Incheon's second officer did not maintain a lookout after misinterpreting the radar's true-speed vectors.
Narrative
At about 23:56 local time on 19 February 2016, the Republic of Korea-registered container ship Sinokor Incheon was proceeding east toward Mishima-Kawanoe Port. The Japanese fishing vessel Toshimaru was proceeding north-northwest toward Mitajiri-Nakanoseki Port. They collided east of Hime Shima in Oita Prefecture, near the position reported as 33°44.1' N, 131°49.7' E. Sinokor Incheon had 17 crew members on board. Toshimaru had only its skipper on board.
Before the collision, Sinokor Incheon's second officer took over the watch and extended the radar's true-speed vectors. He interpreted the display as showing Toshimaru passing astern and concluded that there was no danger of collision. The report states that he did not monitor changes in bearing and was not keeping a proper lookout. The third officer left the bridge during the approach, and the second officer became the sole watchkeeper in an area with congested traffic. JTSB also found it probable that Toshimaru's skipper did not notice Sinokor Incheon until the container ship had come close. Fatigue was considered somewhat likely for the skipper, but his lookout condition could not be determined because he died.
Sinokor Incheon sustained abrasions on its bulbous bow. Toshimaru sustained a hole and cracks in its port-side center shell plating, capsized after the collision, and became a total loss. The skipper was recovered from the capsized fishing vessel and died by drowning. The investigation records no injuries on Sinokor Incheon. It could not determine which navigation rules applied because Toshimaru's track was not recorded and its skipper was unavailable to provide evidence.
The JTSB concluded that the collision resulted from Sinokor Incheon's second officer failing to keep a lookout after misinterpreting the true-speed vector and Toshimaru's skipper not noticing the approaching container ship until it was close. It recommended that the ship manager instruct crews to comply with STCW watchkeeping standards, the safety management manual, and the master's standing order, including maintaining a proper lookout.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016-02-19 23:47 JST | Sinokor Incheon's second officer took over the watch and interpreted the extended true-speed vectors. |
| 2016-02-19 23:53 JST | The third officer left the bridge while the second officer remained on watch. |
| 2016-02-19 23:56 JST | Sinokor Incheon and Toshimaru collided east of Hime Shima. |
| 2016-02-20 08:25 JST | Toshimaru's skipper was recovered from the capsized fishing vessel. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to maintain a proper lookout | Confirmed finding | JTSB found that Sinokor Incheon's second officer did not monitor Toshimaru's bearing or maintain a proper lookout. |
| Misinterpretation of radar true-speed vectors | Confirmed finding | The second officer interpreted the vector display as showing Toshimaru passing astern and concluded that there was no collision danger. |
| One-person bridge watch in congested traffic | Confirmed finding | The second officer became the sole watchkeeper after the third officer left the bridge. |
| Possible fatigue of Toshimaru's skipper | Suspected | JTSB considered accumulated fatigue somewhat likely, but could not determine the skipper's lookout condition. |
Investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board investigated the collision in Marine Accident Investigation Report MA2017-3. It identified lookout failure and the misinterpretation of true-speed vectors as probable causal factors, while preserving uncertainty about Toshimaru's lookout condition and the applicable navigation rules. The report also issued a safety recommendation on compliance with STCW, company procedures, and master's standing orders.