Collision between oil products tanker Audacity and general cargo vessel Leonis
Location: Approaches to River Humber, England.
Accident Investigation Report 2/2008
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened and actions taken:
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Summary
At 1351 on 14 April 2007, the UK registered product tanker Audacity was involved in a collision with the Panama registered general cargo ship Leonis, in very poor visibility, in the precautionary area at the entrance to the River Humber. Both vessels sustained damage to their bows. Fortunately there were no injuries and no pollution was caused.
Safety Issues
- The pilots and bridge teams, on both vessels, did not make a full assessment of the risk of collision
- VTS procedures for managing traffic in the precautionary area were insufficient
- VTS operators were unaware of the poor visibility in parts of the VTS area
- Humber VTS did not have a formal operating procedure for periods of reduced visibility
- Communications were poor
- The Port Authority misunderstood how risk assessment could be used to improve the effectiveness of the VTS operations
Recommendations
Recommendations have been made to: the UK Major Ports Group/British Ports Association regarding the situational awareness of pilots immediately prior to boarding vessels; and to the ABP Group to develop policies covering headline issues, which can be implemented and monitored in all ports within the Group.
This report was published on 25 January 2008.