Negligence caused death of eight fishermen
Vietnamese authorities on Dec 4 have concluded that the collision between the "Sima Sapphire" and a local fishing boat 54 nautical miles off the coast of Vung Tau, that killed eight people on Sep 16 was caused by the negligence of the cargo ship’s second mate.
The radar had detected the boat sailing in the opposite direction 20 minutes before the collision, and the ship’s black box also showed that during his shift, Plakida played music very loudly. On seeing the boat, he failed to steer the vessel away to avoid the collision. The fishing boat was not on guard despite having one fisherman on watch. After the Vietnam Maritime Administration announced its findings they were handed over to police in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, where the accident took place, for further investigation.
The f/v sank, but the container ship’s crew managed to rescue eight of the 16 fishermen aboard. After the accident the ship was held for investigations but was released later, while its Ukrainian master Koba Mykola and the second mate Sergiy Plakida, 33, have been prohibited from leaving Vung Tau.
According to the maritime administration, the vessel left Ho Chi Minh City on Sep 15 for Port Klang. The "Sima Sapphire"’s owners paid US$ 260,000 to the fishing boat’s owner, $ 13,000-19,000 to each dead man's family, and $ 4,000 to each survivor.
Vietnamese authorities on Dec 4 have concluded that the collision between the "Sima Sapphire" and a local fishing boat 54 nautical miles off the coast of Vung Tau, that killed eight people on Sep 16 was caused by the negligence of the cargo ship’s second mate.
The radar had detected the boat sailing in the opposite direction 20 minutes before the collision, and the ship’s black box also showed that during his shift, Plakida played music very loudly. On seeing the boat, he failed to steer the vessel away to avoid the collision. The fishing boat was not on guard despite having one fisherman on watch. After the Vietnam Maritime Administration announced its findings they were handed over to police in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, where the accident took place, for further investigation.
The f/v sank, but the container ship’s crew managed to rescue eight of the 16 fishermen aboard. After the accident the ship was held for investigations but was released later, while its Ukrainian master Koba Mykola and the second mate Sergiy Plakida, 33, have been prohibited from leaving Vung Tau.
According to the maritime administration, the vessel left Ho Chi Minh City on Sep 15 for Port Klang. The "Sima Sapphire"’s owners paid US$ 260,000 to the fishing boat’s owner, $ 13,000-19,000 to each dead man's family, and $ 4,000 to each survivor.