Fatigue was a major contributing factor to the longline fishing
vessel Ocean Odyssey collision with the side of the
container ship P&O Nedlloyd Taranaki. The ship was
drifting while assessing its engine problem when the fishing boat
ran into it, according to an ATSB investigation report released
today.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report states that the
N.S.W registered Ocean Odyssey collided with the port side
of the container ship at about 0244 local time on 29 June 2004 near
the entrance to Port Botany, after the boat's skipper had fallen
asleep on watch. The boat was returning from its fishing grounds
off the N.S.W coast at the time and was on autopilot. The container
ship had had a main engine breakdown prior to the incident and was
unable to get out of the way of the approaching fishing vessel.
A local port pilot had just boarded the container ship which was
preparing to enter port when the engine breakdown occurred. The
crew on the bridge of the ship had illuminated the ship and
switched on the correct signal lights after the breakdown. As they
watched the fishing vessel approach, they sounded the ship's
whistle in an attempt to alert the fishing vessel to the impending
collision but were powerless to prevent the boat from running into
the ship's side.
After the collision, the pilot requested that the pilot boat
meet with the fishing boat to ensure that its crew were safe. The
fishing boat then returned to its berth at the Sydney Fish markets
where an investigation into the collision was initiated.
The report concludes that the skipper was fatigued at the time
of the collision due to his work schedule and that his wheelhouse
environment at the time was conducive to sleep.
Neither vessel used their VHF radio before or after the
collision.
Copies of the report ( Marine
Safety Investigation Report 203)can be downloaded from the ATSB
website.