Collision Case Study - Issue 102

Introduction

North’s loss prevention guide Collisions: How to Avoid Them includes a series of collision case studies intended to generate discussion about the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). Further case studies are published in Signals from time to time and here is the latest of them. Each case study is set out as simply as possible, with the minimum information necessary to describe a developing situation. The case studies are intended to promote wide-ranging discussions about collision avoidance.

Scenario

The two ships are preparing for an STS transfer. The ‘orange’ ship is the receiving vessel, she is the larger of the two and is part-loaded. She is steering due east at 5 knots. The ‘blue’ ship is the transferring vessel and the smaller of the two. She is fully loaded. The ‘blue’ ship is almost on station, her speed is reducing to 5 knots and she is edging towards the ‘orange ship’.

Wind and swell are from the north. Both ships are rolling and there is a risk of contact at deck level.

Questions

1. Is this situation governed by the collision regulations?

2. If ‘yes’, which of the rules in Part B, Section II apply?

3. If contact damage occurs to the ‘blue ship’, which vessel is responsible?

Answers can be found below.

Further Information
Members can obtain electronic versions of North’s loss prevention guide Collisions: How to avoid them by e-mailing loss.prevention@nepia.com

To obtain hard copies of North’s Guides, please download the Loss Prevention Order Form from our website: www.nepia.com/lp-publications

Answers

1. No, as between the two STS vessels the Collision Regulations do not apply. The intention and method of COLREGS is to remove the ‘risk of collision’by avoiding a ‘close quarters’ situation but in STS operations the two ships are intended to come into contact. STS is therefore a collision (two ships coming into contact) but under an agreement to exclude COLREGS.

2. It follows that the rules in Part B do not apply.

3. Because COLREGS do not apply, neither ship has priority over the other. Responsibility for any damage is Measured by each master’s negligence and in this case both masters agreed to perform a manoeuvre under conditions when rolling damage was foreseeable. By this analysis neither master was negligent, in which case neither ship has a claim against the other ship bears its own loss and damage.

And remember, once on their final approach, ships performing STS are ‘Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre’. They must show the appropriate lights and shapes and must follow COLREGS in relation to other shipping in the vicinity.