The BTSU has issued investigation report regarding the collision incident occurred in the river Elbe between MV EENDRACHT and MV TRANSCAPRICORN on 26 November 2015.
The incident
At 0528 CET on 26 November 2015, the MV EENDRACHT, flying the Netherlands flag, and sailing downstream the river Elbe at high speed, collided with the MV TRANSCAPRICORN, flying the flag of Gibraltar, at buoy 51 off the Oste estuary. Due to her abrupt course alteration to port, the EENDRACHT crossed the middle of the fairway and sailed directly in front of TRANSCAPRICORN‘s bow so that a collision was inevitable. An obtuse collision angle and major damages could be prevented by rudder – and engine manoeuvres carried out by both ships. Both vessels scrapped along each other. Thereby the TRANSCAPRICORN stranded on the mud flat and had to be towed free by a tug, while the MV EENDRACHT remained floatable. No harm was caused to people and no harmful substances escaped.
Findings
The collision was caused by the fact that EENDRACHT did not keep the track triggered by switching from automatic pilot (heading control system) to manual steering. The BSU had not yet been given the opportunity to reconstruct the course of the accident on board the EENDRACHT and could therefore not conclude the investigation report. The EENDRACHTS’s crew and the ship’s owner did not submit a statement to the BSU so far.
Further details may be founded in the report herebelow
Source & Image credit: BSU