Safety

Renewed search after perished fisherman

The Utkilen-owned Doris.

An underwater search for the missing 54-year old fisherman from the 33-foot fishing vessel Skarbak was resumed towards the end of October, after Skarbak’s collision with the 16,000 DWT chemical tanker Doris.

The Utkilen tanker cut the fishing vessel in half, as the Doris was un able to stop in time. At a public hearing after the accident it became apparent that the Doris had no lookout and did not use the radar, but that visibility was good. Sound recordings of the radio traffic between the two vessels show that there seems to have been some difference in opinion as to who should give way:
Skarbak: “Are you going to slow down, you who are approaching us?”
Doris: “Are you 20 foot, or are you 19? I think you should calm down a little bit.”
Just minutes after this conversation the Doris slammed into the Skarbak and cut the fishing vessel in half. During the hearing the chemical tanker captain Trygve Bekken said that even though the Doris should have given way to the Skarbak to avoid the fatal collision, taking avoiding action would almost certainly have caused a collision. He accused the Skarbak of reckless action when the fishing vessel speeded up in the hope of getting across before the Doris passed. Although he admitted that the Skarbak had the right of way, he believe that the rule did not apply for the reason given, namely, that avoiding action would have led to a collision.

Written: 2007-10-25 14.24.30
Editor: Petter Arentz