The masters of the "Peggotty" and "Petunia Seaways" that collided in the Humber during thick fog have been fined £3,000 each. The "Peggotty" sank after the collision, and the two men on board had to be rescued. David Carlin, the master of the Second World War motor launch "Peggotty" and Thomas Neilsen, master of the "Petunia Seaway", were both prosecuted after an investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). They pleaded guilty to conduct endangering ships when they appeared at Hull Magistrates Court on Feb 3, 2017. On May 19, 2016, at around 4.30 a.m. the "Peggotty", a 50 foot vessel, had left Grimsby Docks making its way to Hull. Although this was a private voyage, Mr Carlin as a professional master mariner and Humber pilot was very experienced. Despite the thick fog he failed to comply with a number of regulations to keep his and other vessels safe. These included failing to make his vessel’s radar operational, failing to make sound signals and failing to ensure all the navigation lights were working. He had also not taken the conditions into account or prepared an effective passage plan for the journey and was relying on an untested mobile phone app. At the same time, the "Petunia Seaways" was making its way down the Humber towards Grimsby. Its master Thomas Neilsen, from Denmark, was on the bridge and in charge. He allowed the vessel to proceed at 14 knots in zero visibility, without making sound signals. Mr Neilsen also failed to properly monitor and assess the ship’s radar to appreciate they were bearing down on the Peggotty. Mr Carlin on his part had not realised the "Peggotty" was in the main shipping channel and was effectively blind to the collision course his vessel was on with the "Petunia Seaways". Just before 4.50 a.m. the two vessels collided almost head on. The "Peggotty" was able to pass down the port side of the "Petunia Seaways", scraping down the side as it went. However the impact was enough to damage the hull of the "Peggotty" and it began to take on water. Mr Carlin was able to broadcast a Mayday call and the two on board were picked up by a nearby pilot boat before the "Peggotty" sank and was lost. Both masters were sentenced at Hull Magistrates Court. The district judge said that Mr Carlin for his part had a catalogue of failures, while Mr Neilsen’s actions were insufficient. As well as fining both of them £3,000 each, the district judge also ordered Mr Neilsen to pay £9,318.20 in costs as well as a £170 surcharge. Mr Carlin was told he would have to pay £6,568 costs plus the £170 surcharge.
ACCIDENTS
03 February 2017 - 22:00
Update: 04 February 2017 - 00:11
Masters of both ships involved in collision fined
Masters of both ships involved in collision fined
ACCIDENTS
03 February 2017 - 22:00
Update: 04 February 2017 - 00:11
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