Critique after collision at Gibraltar
SHIPPING: In an report made by the authorities at Gibraltar about the collision between Torm Gertrud and New Flame in August 2007, it says that mistakes were committed on board both ships before the accident.
The report made by the authorities at Gibraltar in cooperation with Danish Maritime Authority and maritime authorities in Panama states, that mistakes were made on board both ships as they approached each other.
New Flame omitted to keep lookout on the bridge, whereas Torm Gertrud's captain left the bridge at a critical time of entering Gibraltar Bay, without ensuring that there was sufficient management on the bridge.
Being the vessel to give way, Torm Gertrud could have, according to the report, manoeuvred in due time to be free of New Flame and thereby prevented that the two ships came so close. The report recommends that Torm Gertrud could have slowed down or made a large change of course to starboard.
But the report also states that New Flame continued to steer port instead of maintaining speed and course, even though the master knew that they were not supposed to give way.
Shortly before the collision, New Flame steered heavily port to avoid the collision - a manoeuvre that brought ship back on direct course of collision.
In total, the report concludes, that too great dependency on electronic navigation and insufficient passage planning, is among the main factors of the collision. The report points out as well, that it is unfortunate that no exchange of information between Algeciras Traffic Control and Gibraltar Port took place.
Source: Tradewinds
