The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the collision between the bulk carrier Polesie and the general cargo ship Verity that resulted in the sinking of the
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the collision between the bulk carrier Polesie and the general cargo ship Verity that resulted in the sinking of the Verity with five fatalities.
The collision occurred on the morning of October 24, 2023, when the Isle of Man registered general cargo carrier Verity collided with the Bahamas registered bulk carrier Polesie in the German Bight traffic separation scheme.
The investigation found that both vessels’ watchkeepers were willing to accept inappropriately close passing distances and that when actions were taken to avoid a collision they were neither positive, made in ample time nor readily apparent to others. Very high frequency (VHF) radio use could have assisted in resolving the situation earlier.
The investigation also found that the intervention of German Bight vessel traffic services (VTS) in the final stages of the interaction was late and inappropriate given the possibility of achieving the desired response.
The damage sustained by Verity caused the vessel to sink quickly and the crew had no time to don lifejackets or immersion suits.
The key safety issues identified were:
• The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) requires that action taken to
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