Completed PE Summary

Barbara & Maersk Borneo

Category: Merchant vessels
Vessel name: Barbara
Manager: MST Mineralien Schifffahrt Spedition und Transport GmbH
Ship Owner: Barbara GmbH & Co.KG
Port of Registry: Nassau
Flag: Bahamas
Classification Society: NKK
Type: Bulk Carrier
Built: 1994
Construction: Steel
Length overall: 180.80m
Gross tonnage: 22,147
Date & Time: 0438 UTC 10 July 2008
Location of incident: Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme
Incident Type: Hazardous Incident
Persons on board: 25 crew
Injuries/fatalities: None
Damage/pollution: None

Category: Merchant vessels
Vessel name: Maersk Borneo
Manager: Moller AP
Ship Owner: Moller AP
Port of Registry: Singapore
Flag: Singapore
Classification Society: Lloyd's Register
Type: Product/ Chemical Tanker
Built: 2007
Construction: Steel
Length overall: 175.26m
Gross tonnage: 19,758
Date & Time: 0438 UTC 10 July 2008
Location of incident: Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme
Incident Type: Hazardous Incident
Persons onboard: 25 crew
Injuries/fatalities: None
Damage/pollution: None

Synopsis

At 0438 UTC on 10 July 2008 a close-quarters situation occurred between the bulk carrier Barbara and the product tanker Maersk Borneo in the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme in good visibility. The incident occurred outside UK territorial waters.

Maersk Borneo was following the south-west traffic lane on a course of 233º at a speed of 12 knots and had a cargo of ammonium nitrate. Barbara had departed Antwerp in ballast for passage to Barcarena, Brazil, and was joining the south-west traffic lane from the east on a course of 298º, also at a speed of 12 knots. As the vessels closed, the OOW on board Maersk Borneo identified that there was a risk of collision and that Barbara was the ‘give way’ vessel.

When Barbara did not take any action, the OOW on board Maersk Borneo attempted to call the approaching vessel several times on various VHF radio channels; no replies were heard. The vessel was also called by CNIS Dover, which was monitoring the situation, but again there was no response. The vessels continued to close so the OOW on board Maersk Borneo altered course broadly to starboard, eventually completing a 360º turn to avoid a collision.

Action taken:

The hazardous incident has been investigated by the Bahamas Maritime Authority. Information regarding its findings can be obtained from: Casualty@bahamasmaritime.com

    Published: OCT 2008