Channel Navigation Information Service News

The UK Coastguard report that a bulk carrier and an oil tanker collided in the Dover Strait. Although both vessels have been damaged, there is no water ingress and no pollution. A French tug is on scene with the vessels. There are no injuries and all of the crew are accounted for. The tanker, ‘Seafrontier’, which is loaded with 37953mt of gasoline, has 27 people on board. The bulk carrier ‘Huayang Endeavour’ is in ballast and has 22 people on board. The Coastguard helicopter was sent to the scene, along with Dover and Ramsgate RNLI Lifeboats, in case evacuation was required. The helicopter remained with the vessels for a short while, reporting information back to the Coastguard, before returning to base. The lifeboats have also now left and the tug has arrived on scene.

At a hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff’s court, the Master of a general cargo ship pleaded guilty to a Merchant Shipping offence following an incident while transiting the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme. Captain Andriy Naumenko, the Ukranian Master of the 10,100 tonne, Maltese registered vessel, SAFMARINE BATA, pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 10(c) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, for which he was fined £2,000. This prosecution follows an investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency into the circumstances surrounding an incident involving the SAFMARINE BATA on the 12th April 2005 as it crossed the Southwest lane of the Dover Strait Traffic Separation Scheme whilst en route from Portugal to Aberdeen in the UK.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said that the master of a cargo vessel was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £500 for violation of the Collision Regulations. When the master crossed the southwest lane of the Dover Straits TSS, he failed to cross at approximately right angle, even when reminded of the obligation by the Channel Navigation Information Service. (HK Law)