M2305

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Close quarters situation

The skipper of a recreational sailing vessel was the stand-on vessel in an encounter in calm sea and bright daylight with a radar reflector and AIS in operation. The skipper reported:

“A large container vessel passed us very close astern… within 50m. I maintained my course and speed as a stand-on vessel. The ship claimed that the engineers had to perform engine performance tests and, therefore, had to keep their course and speed.”

The skipper sent CHIRP a video of the conversation and screenshots, which confirmed their report.

Engine performance testing is a routine operation carried out periodically by most merchant ships. It is done to identify problems and prevent major failures, improve efficiency, optimise performance, assess quality and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. It is part of the SMS and PMS.

Such testing is carried out ideally when conditions are good and external factors such as wind, sea state, and current are as low as possible to obtain the best results. Maintaining course and speed ensures that the load on the engine is stable; however early and gentle alterations of course of one or two degrees at a time using minimum rudder movements can avoid a close-quarters situation developing without jeopardizing the engine performance test. In any event, adherence to ColRegs is paramount and the trial should, if necessary, be abandoned and rescheduled. Did the container vessel OOW lack the confidence to abandon the trial, or did they feel that they were not empowered to do so? CHIRP posed these and other questions to the vessel’s management company, who were extremely helpful in investigating this incident.

Although the sailing vessel was the vessel not to be impeded and maintained its course and speed (ColRegs rule 17a ii) it was evident that a risk of collision existed, and it was thus obliged (ColRegs rule 8f(iii)) to take action under rule 17b to avoid collision. Large, high-sided vessels have a blind sector at very close range and the yacht was probably not visible from the larger vessel’s bridge at only 50m.

Situational Awareness– Whilst engine performance testing is important, the paramount requirement is to adhere to the ColRegs. Remember that large vessels have a ‘blind sector’ that often extends a long way from the bow.

Culture- The company should ask whether its officers have the necessary confidence to challenge instruction/orders even when there is a known danger.