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Accidents

Seagate collision with Timor Stream

On 10 March 2012 at 05:40 local time, the British bulk carrier Seagate and the Liberian refrigerated-cargo ship Timor Stream collided in open water 24 nautical miles north of the Dominican Republic. The collision occurred while both vessels were on passage in good visibility.

Classification

FieldValue
Incident typeCollision
SeverityHigh
Marine casualty classificationSerious Marine Casualty
RegionCaribbean Sea
Location24 nautical miles north of the Dominican Republic

Vessel Details

FieldSeagateTimor Stream
TypeGeared bulk carrierRefrigerated-cargo ship with containers on deck
Flag stateUnited KingdomLiberia
IMO number89054889172947
Registered ownerBurnley Shipping Enterprises LtdTimor Stream Schiffahrts GmbH
ManagerZodiacTriton Schiffahrts GmbH
Length overall170.02 m150.0 m
Gross tonnage17,5909,307
Minimum safe manning1714
Persons on board21204
VoyageBeaumont, Texas, to Lagos, Nigeria, carrying wheatManzanillo, Dominican Republic, to Portsmouth, UK, carrying refrigerated bananas and deck containers

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date and time2012-03-10 05:40 local time
Position20°18.4′N, 71°38.9′W
OperationBoth vessels on passage in mid-water
Coordinates20°18.4′N, 71°38.9′W
Fatalities0; MAIB records injuries/fatalities as nil for both vessels
Injuries0; MAIB records injuries/fatalities as nil for both vessels
Missing
Seagate outcomeTowed to Port-au-Prince, declared a constructive total loss, and scrapped
Timor Stream outcomeProceeded to Port of Spain for temporary repairs and later to Portsmouth before permanent repairs in Europe
Pollution12,500 litres of diesel oil and 5,500 litres of lubricating oil spilled from Seagate; MAIB records no pollution from Timor Stream

Key facts

  • Seagate's chief officer interpreted Timor Stream as an overtaking vessel that would keep clear, while Timor Stream's master was alone on the bridge without a lookout.
  • Neither watchkeeper recognized the collision risk until less than one minute before the collision.
  • Timor Stream's bow struck the after part of Seagate's starboard side in way of the accommodation block and engine room.
  • Seagate's engine room and steering gear compartment flooded, while Timor Stream sustained major bow damage without a breached collision bulkhead.
  • MAIB attributed the collision to poor watchkeeping standards driven by complacency and failures to comply with collision-avoidance requirements.

Narrative

Seagate was on passage from Beaumont, Texas, to Lagos, Nigeria, carrying wheat. Timor Stream left Manzanillo, Dominican Republic, about three hours before the collision, carrying refrigerated bananas and containers for Portsmouth. Seagate's chief officer took the 04:00 bridge watch with an ordinary seaman as lookout. Timor Stream's master decided to take the bridge watch alone during the transition from port operations to ocean watchkeeping and did not call the available lookout.

At about 05:15, Seagate's lookout alerted the chief officer to a vessel on the starboard side. The chief officer concluded that Timor Stream was overtaking and would pass clear, but he did not obtain a visual bearing after failing to plot the radar target. On Timor Stream, the master was occupied with other bridge tasks and was not keeping an effective lookout. Neither watchkeeper assessed the developing risk correctly.

At 05:40, Timor Stream's bow struck Seagate's starboard side. Seagate's engine room was holed and flooded, the steering gear compartment later flooded, electrical power failed, and its starboard lifeboat and liferaft were destroyed. Timor Stream suffered major damage to its bow, anchors, forecastle deck, and mooring equipment. No injuries occurred, but oil was released from Seagate's damaged tanks.

The crews assisted each other after the collision. Seventeen Seagate crew members transferred from Timor Stream to the US Coast Guard cutter Venturous, while the remaining Seagate crew were evacuated later. Seagate was stabilized and towed to Port-au-Prince, where it was eventually declared a constructive total loss and scrapped. Timor Stream proceeded for temporary repairs and later completed a voyage to Portsmouth before permanent repairs in Europe.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2012-03-10 02:48 local timeTimor Stream departed Manzanillo, Dominican Republic.
2012-03-10 04:00 local timeSeagate's chief officer and an ordinary seaman took over the bridge watch.
2012-03-10 05:15 local timeSeagate's lookout reported a vessel on the starboard side; the chief officer treated it as an overtaking vessel.
2012-03-10 05:40 local timeSeagate and Timor Stream collided.
2012-03-10 05:44 local timeSeagate's master issued a Mayday call.
2012-03-10 approximately 06:00 local timeSix Seagate crew climbed onto Timor Stream; additional evacuation preparations began.
2012-03-10 approximately 06:30 local timeEleven Seagate crew transferred from a liferaft to Timor Stream.
2012-03-10 approximately 06:35 local timeSeagate's chief officer fell overboard while handling the lifeboat and was rescued by the yacht Battered Bull without injury.
2012-03-10 09:58 local timeUSCGC Venturous arrived on scene.
2012-03-10 11:00 local timeSeventeen Seagate crew transferred from Timor Stream to Venturous.
2012-03-10 13:40 local timeSeagate's last three crew members, including the master, transferred to Venturous.
2012-03-11 onwardSeagate was stabilized, towed to Port-au-Prince, and later declared a constructive total loss; Timor Stream proceeded for repairs.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence statusDescription
Poor watchkeeping and complacencyConfirmed findingMAIB found that watchkeeping standards on both vessels were poor and driven by complacency.
Failure to maintain a proper lookoutConfirmed findingTimor Stream's master was alone on the bridge without the available lookout, while Seagate's chief officer relied on a cursory visual assessment.
Incorrect assessment by Seagate's chief officerConfirmed findingHe assumed Timor Stream was overtaking and would pass clear, did not obtain a visual bearing, and did not reconsider that assessment as the situation developed.
Distraction and one-person watch on Timor StreamConfirmed findingThe master took the bridge watch alone and occupied himself with other tasks instead of maintaining an effective lookout.
Failure to apply collision-avoidance proceduresConfirmed findingBoth watchkeepers failed to assess the risk of collision and take appropriate action under the COLREGS and their companies' written navigation procedures.

Investigation

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigated the collision as Serious Marine Casualty Report 17/2013. The report was published on 26 June 2013, with the official GOV.UK page updated on 23 January 2015. MAIB concluded that poor watchkeeping standards driven by complacency caused both watchkeepers to fail to keep a proper lookout, assess the risk of collision, and take appropriate avoiding action. No recommendations were issued because both vessel managers had taken actions addressing the identified safety issues.

References

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