Classification
- Incident Type: Collision
- Severity: High
- Primary Source: DMAIB official PDF report
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | FRANK W |
| Vessel Type | General Cargo |
| Flag State | Antigua and Barbuda [AG] |
| IMO Number | 9374674 |
| Gross Tonnage | 2528 |
| LOA (m) | |
| Breadth (m) | |
| Year Built | 2006 |
| Crew Size | 7 |
Counterparty Vessel
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Counterparty Vessel Name | LILLY |
| Counterparty Vessel Type | Fishing vessel / trawler |
| Counterparty Flag State | Denmark |
| Crew Size | 2 fishermen |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2011-06-26 |
| Time | 07:38 |
| Location | East of Skagen, near buoy No 1A |
| Coordinates | 57.726667, 10.865000 |
| Region | North Sea |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Vessels Lost | 1 |
| Outcome | LILLY sank after the collision; both fishermen were rescued, and FRANK W continued with minor damage. |
| Direct Damage | |
| Estimated Economic Damage |
Key facts
- FRANK W and LILLY collided at 07:38 on 2011-06-26 east of Skagen, near buoy No 1A.
- The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board found that neither vessel maintained an effective lookout before the collision.
- LILLY developed a major leak and sank about 30 minutes after the collision.
- The pilot boat SKAWPILOT II rescued both fishermen from LILLY.
- FRANK W sustained minor dents aft on its port side and continued its voyage.
Narrative
On the morning of 2011-06-26, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged general cargo vessel FRANK W was navigating east of Skagen. Near buoy No 1A, its bridge team detected two small radar echoes. The team interpreted one echo as the expected buoy and the other as false information. Sun glare prevented visual verification, but the contact was not adequately plotted or otherwise established from the available radar information.
The Danish fishing vessel LILLY was returning toward Skagen with two fishermen aboard. One fisherman saw FRANK W at a distance of about 3 nautical miles and assumed the cargo vessel would pass ahead. He then left the wheelhouse to join the other fisherman in sorting the catch on deck. With no effective lookout maintained on LILLY and the radar contact on FRANK W not properly assessed, neither vessel took timely avoiding action. They collided at 07:38 at position 57°43.6'N, 010°51.9'E.
The collision caused a major leak aboard LILLY. The nearby pilot boat SKAWPILOT II rescued both fishermen, and LILLY sank about 30 minutes after the impact. FRANK W sustained minor dents and indentations aft on its port side and was permitted to continue its voyage.
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board concluded that the collision occurred because both vessels failed to maintain an effective lookout. It found that FRANK W relied on scant radar information and that LILLY's working routine was incompatible with maintaining a continuous watch. The report also stated that the absence of LILLY's AIS Type B information from the display on FRANK W may have contributed to the failure to recognize the fishing vessel.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2011-06-26, before 07:38 | FRANK W detected two small radar echoes near buoy No 1A but did not establish that one was LILLY; LILLY's fishermen were sorting catch without an effective wheelhouse lookout. |
| 2011-06-26 07:38 | FRANK W and LILLY collided at position 57°43.6'N, 010°51.9'E. |
| 2011-06-26, after the collision | SKAWPILOT II rescued LILLY's two fishermen. |
| About 30 minutes after the collision | LILLY sank as a result of the major leak. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ineffective lookouts | Confirmed finding | DMAIB found that neither vessel maintained an effective lookout before the collision. |
| Inadequate radar assessment | Confirmed finding | FRANK W relied on scant radar information and misinterpreted the echoes near buoy No 1A. |
| LILLY's working routine | Confirmed finding | Both fishermen were sorting catch on deck, leaving the wheelhouse without an effective lookout. |
| AIS Type B presentation | Suspected | DMAIB stated that the absence of LILLY's AIS Type B information from FRANK W's display may have contributed. |
Investigation
The Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board investigated the casualty and published Marine Accident Report: FRANK W / LILLY Collision on 26 June 2011 in March 2012. The board concluded that ineffective lookouts on both vessels led to the collision. Its analysis also identified FRANK W's reliance on scant radar information, LILLY's unattended wheelhouse during catch sorting, and the possible contribution of LILLY's AIS Type B information not being presented aboard FRANK W.
References
- DMAIB source note
- Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board report: FRANK W / LILLY collision on 26 June 2011
- Archived report copy