Case Study of a Marine Accident
due to Contravention of Rule -05
Made by:
Jaswinder Singh
201537TN131
Rule 5- LOOK-OUT
Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper
look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all
available means appropriate in the prevailing
circumstances and conditions so as to make full
appraisal of the situation and of the risk of
collision.
Duties of the look-out man
Report any light.
Report any vessel.
Report any floating object.
Report any sound signal (especially in
restricted visibility)
If necessary, use Binoculars.
Meaning of some phrases
All Available means-
Use of Radar, AIS, VHF and Binoculars.
Full Appraisal of the situation-
As the OOW, we must constantly be aware of
what is happening on your own vessel and
what is going on outside your vessel.
Look-out is kept for the early detection of the
other vessel, make full analysis of the situation
and determine if risk of collision exists.
In open sea under clear weather and during day
time , the OOW can act as the sole look-out.
At night time, a lookout is posted so as to avoid
one man bridge operation.
SPRING GLORY/ JOSEPHINE MAERSK
COLLISION ON 5 JUNE 2012.
SPRING GLORY was a Hong Kong flagged
bulk carrier.
JOSEPHINE MAERSK was a Danish flagged
Container ship.
They collided in the eastern approaches to
Singapore Strait, approximately 7 nm NE of
Horsburgh Lighthouse.
Close-quarter situation developing.
SPRING GLORY, had just left the traffic
separation scheme (TSS) of the Singapore
Strait.
JOSEPHINE MÆRSK, was about to enter the
TSS of the Singapore Strait.
According to the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea, SPRING
GLORY was the ship to give way, and
JOSEPHINE MÆRSK was the ship to stand
on.
Events on JOSEPHINE MAERSK:
• At 1950 hours, the 3rd officer took over the
watch. One able seaman was on duty as a
lookout.
• At 2145 hours, the OOW noticed two ships
were approaching on the starboard bow to
enter the TSS.
• All other ships,on the port side, were at
anchor.
• The OOW did not notice any ships
approaching on the port side, nor did the
lookout who was standing at the centre of the
bridge.
• The OOW was focusing on the traffic on his
starboard side and concentrated on a hard turn to
port which he was about to make when entering
the TSS.
• At 2215 hours, SPRING GLORY became visible
on the radar at a distance of approx. 11 nm.
• At 2229 hours, the OOW observed a green light
on the port bow at a distance of 2 nm.
• The OOW had not observed the other ship on the
radar prior to his visual observation, nor had the
lookout.
• The OOW called the master and altered the course
giving full starboard helm at 22:33:10.
• The master arrived on the bridge at 22:34:30,she
was still in a hard turn to starboard and SPRING
GLORY was very close to the port side.
• At 22:34:40, They collided in the eastern
approaches to Singapore Strait, approximately 7
nm NE of Horsburgh Lighthouse.
Events on SPRING GLORY:
• At 2200 hrs, the master left the bridge. The OOW
was the 3rd officer and an able seaman was on duty
as a lookout.
• At 2218 hrs, JOSEPHINE MAERSK became
visible on the radar 9 nm, but the OOW failed to
notice it and the Look-out was inefficient.
• At 22:24:04 , at 5 nm, JOSEPHINE MAERSK was
selected as a target on the radar and identified with
expanded data on the AIS.
• SPRING GLORY had several fishing vessels on its
starboard bow, apart from JOSEPHINE MAERSK.
• Around 2229 hours, the OOW on SPRING
GLORY repeatedly called in the VHF to attract the
attention of JOSEPHINE MAERSK asking how
the call was read in JOSEPHINE MAERSK, but
the OOW received no response.
• SPRING GLORY and JOSEPHINE MAERSK
maintained its course and speed.
• At 22:32:48 hours, other vessel’s communication
on VHF was heard, one of which directed another
ship: “please increase your speed ”.
• At 22:34:40, SPRING GLORY’s starboard side
collided, with port side of JOSEPHINE MAERSK.
• As JOSEPHINE MAERSK was carrying a starboard
turn at that time, this ship was hit at the port side
before both ships departed from each other.
• On both the ships, no one was injured, and there was
no pollution of the environment.
• On JOSEPHINE MAERSK several containers got
damaged, two of which landed on the forecastle of
SPRING GLORY.
Damage caused
Conclusions
Both the look-outs did not keep a sharp watch
and thus violated Rule -5.
The Radar and AIS were not used in a proper
manner and so they were late in detecting the
crossing situation.
The use of VHF created even more problem
as she heard “an increase in speed” order of
some other ship in vicinity.
Precautions
• The OOW shall instruct the lookout about all
relevant observations and to report everything
seen, to the navigating officer.
• The lookout should keep a sharp watch in all
directions so that areas which can only be seen
from particular locations are covered.
• On VHF, after calling the other ship on
CH-16, we must change our channel to other
suitable working frequency.
THANK YOU!
