The collision of the 'Le Puffin' and the 'Cecilie Maersk' was caused by the helmsman aboard the fishing vessel falling asleep
The collision of the 'Le Puffin' and the 'Cecilie Maersk' was caused by the helmsman aboard the fishing vessel falling asleep. The investigations of the Maritime Gendarmerie continued. According to preliminary evidence, there was no serious misbehaviour of the one or other crew, and the case will probably be settled between the respective insurers of the freighter and the company Réunimer, owner of the Puffin. The two-day hearings revealed a lack of watch on the side of the 'Le Puffin'. Indeed, it seemed that the sailor in charge of the watch, while his colleagues and his captain slept, fell asleep which explains why he did not notice the container ship crossing his route on radar. The lapse of attention could not exempt the liability of the cargo ship, which had a proper watch and the radar of which was also in working order to attempt to avoid the collision. It remained to be taken into account whether the situation was correctly evaluated and anticipated aboard the freighter. The damage to the 'Le Puffin' has not been evaluated yet. The five crew members of the fishing vessel escaped unharmed but suffered psychological support.
