MV BARKALD and SV ESSENCE Collision

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M/V BARKALD and S/V ESSENCE Collision

• Long Island Sound
• September 20, 2006

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M/V BARKALD

• Self-discharging bulk freight vessel
• Steel hull 623 ft in length 28,912 gross tons
• Crew of 30 plus NY Pilot
• Equipped with 4 deck cranes mounted on starboard
  side conveyor belt apparatus mounted on port
  side
• Transiting from Bridgeport anchorage enroute Nova
  Scotia

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S/V ESSENCE

• Pleasure yacht / auxiliary sailing vessel
• FRP hull 92 ft in length 95 gross tons
• Crew of 3 / no pax licensed Master, unlicensed
  Mate, U.S. licensed Cook
• Transiting from Newport to Greenwich

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Weather Conditions

• Clear skies
• Visibility 10 miles
• North-northwest winds at 10 kts
• 2 - 4 foot chop
• Air temp 70 degrees F

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M/V BARKALD Bridge Team

• Pilot Captain James Mahlmann, NY Pilot for NY
  Harbor and LIS licensed for LIS in August 06
  this was his 3rd solo trip through LIS had
  sailed BARKALD in past
• OOW 2nd Mate licensed Officer 3 months on
  board
• AB and OS on helm throttle controls
• Master and Cadet on bridge, not on watch

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S/V ESSENCE

• Unlicensed Mate on watch / had been ill day
  before 2 yrs on board 1st trip through LIS
• Cook sleeping in pilot house
• Master asleep below in main salon on port side
• VHF, GPS, radar chart plotter energized
• Nav lights energized running lights, masthead
  light stern light
• Motor sailing both engines and mainsail set

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Lookouts

• On ESSENCE Mate on watch
• On BARKALD Pilot, OOW, AB OS
• No dedicated lookout on BARKALD
• Pilot stated he requested a bow lookout for LIS
  transit during Pilot/Master exchange
• Master stated Pilot never asked and he never
  offered

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Collision

• Vessels on nearly reciprocal courses
• BARKALD making 14 kts
• ESSENCE making 8 kts
• All nav lights energized and working properly on
  both vessels
• All nav systems and ship systems operating
  properly on both vessels
• Visual contact made by ESSENCE at 10 miles
• Visual contact made by BARKALD at .2 miles

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Collision

• Radio comms initiated by ESSENCE
• No specific meeting arrangement was made
• ESSENCE reported to BARKALD that BARKALDs port
  light was out, and made slight turn to starboard
• Pilot did not respond to port light comment
• ESSENCE affirmed he would stay clear made hard
  turn to starboard, crossing BARKALDs bow

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Communication Details

• Comms initiated by ESSENCE 1 minute and 17
  seconds prior to collision
• Motor vessel off my port, motor vessel off my
  port, sailing yacht ESSENCE, come in please,
  over.
• BARKALD responds after second call
• Yes, this is the motor vessel off your port
  side.
• ESSENCE responds
• Hi, Im sailing yacht ESSENCE. Um, I just
  wanted to let you know, I dont know if you know
  this, but, um, your your port light is not
  working only the starboard is shining, over.
• BARKALD responds
• Okay, so are you going to stay clear of my
  vessel?
• ESSENCE responds
• Ya, Im staying clear of your vessel.
• BARKALD responds
• Youre talking to a large cargo ship, correct?
• ESSENCE responds
• Thats you ahead.

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Collision

• BARKALD maintained course and speed at all times
• Pilot was on the starboard bridge wing at the
  time of the collision 2nd Mate was in pilot
  house
• ESSENCE crew survived collision
• BARKALD deployed life boat after collision
• CG Station New Haven launched 25 rescue boat
• CG rescued ESSENCE Mate and Cook
• BARKALD lifeboat rescued ESSENCE Master

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Conclusions of CG InvestigationPrimary Cause

• The failure of the Mate on the ESSENCE to
  properly identify the aspect of the lights of the
  BARKALD and his position in relation to the
  BARKALD.
• He failed to take proper action to avoid
  collision Rule 8.
• He effected a 70 to 90 degree turn to starboard,
  crossing the BARKALD bow, resulting in the
  collision.

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Conclusions of CG Investigation Contributing
Causes

• The failure of the Mate on the ESSENCE to
  determine that risk of collision existed with
  BARKALD Rule 7
• The failure of the bridge team on the BARKALD to
  make visual contact and/or radar contact with
  ESSENCE in sufficient time to determine whether
  risk of collision existed Rule 7
• The failure of the Pilot and 2nd Mate of BARKALD
  to determine a head-on situation existed with
  ESSENCE Rule 14

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Conclusions of CG Investigation Contributing
Causes

• The failure of the Pilot and 2nd Mate on the
  BARKALD to maintain a proper lookout Rule 5
• The bridge team on the BARKALD failed to comply
  with company policy to post a lookout on the
  bridge as required during the hours of darkness
• Improper communications

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QUESTIONS? Dawn Kallen, Marine
InvestigatorDawn.M.Kallen_at_uscg.mil(203) 468-4506
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