Collision with fishing vessel, resulting in loss of lives of five fishermen and missing of seven fishermen

1. Incident Summary

On 07 Aug 2018, an oil tanker vessel collided with an Indian fishing boat, resulting in the loss of five fishermen's lives and seven missing. The incident occurred around 03:30 hrs, approximately 25 nm off the coast of Kerala.

2. Causal Factors and Non-Compliance

• COLREGs Non-Compliance: Duty officer did not follow the Rules for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).
• Negligent Watch: Duty officer failed to maintain a proper navigational watch.
• Master's Orders: Master's standing orders regarding minimum CPA were not complied with.
• Sound Signals: Sound signals were not used for collision avoidance.
• Radar Use: Targets were not plotted on radar.
• Bridge Team Management: Bridge team management was not of adequate standard.
• Route Planning: Vessel had planned passage through a high fishing traffic area.

3. Action Taken

• Rescue: Two survivors were picked up by nearby fishing boats.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): SAR operations were conducted by Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy.
• Investigation: Vessel was diverted to New Mangalore port for investigation, and a detailed inquiry was conducted.

4. Lessons Learnt

• COLREGs Compliance: COLREGs are to be followed at all times.
• Navigational Watch: Proper navigational watch is to be maintained at all times.
• Master's Orders: Master's orders are to be complied with at all times.
• Bridge Team Resources: Bridge team is to use all available resources at all times.
• Route Planning: Passage should be planned well clear of high fishing density areas.