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Hit-and-run: Singapore-flagged ship slammedSINGAPORE, Sep 24, 2010 (The Straits Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When a Singapore-registered bulk carrier struck a fishing boat in the English Channel last December, it continued on its course instead of stopping to render help. The collision threw all four crew members of the British-registered fishing vessel -- Etoile des Ondes -- into the freezing waters. Briton Chris Wadsworth, 21, died as a result. Investigations revealed the crew on board the bulk carrier later altered and removed the ship's documents and recordings to obscure any evidence suggesting that there had been a collision. Last week, Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch released a strongly worded report highlighting the failures of Singapore-registered Alam Pintar. The vessel had failed to report the collision, made no attempt to confirm if the boat's crew were safe, and even ignored the 'mayday' call for help. The crew also destroyed and altered evidence and gave conflicting statements when interviewed by the authorities, to mask the vessel's involvement in the accident. The report said that the ship master, by assuming Etoile des Ondes was still afloat, and deciding to continue, was irresponsible. It added: "However, once he had reason to believe that Etoile des Ondes and her crew were not safe, his action in ignoring the 'mayday relay' and continuing on passage was illegal, immoral and against all traditions of the seas." The 90,000-tonne carrier, manned by Chinese nationals, was en route to Hamburg, Germany on Dec 20 last year when it hit the 15m crabbing vessel. The report said that the bridge of Alam Pintar was manned by an inexperienced officer and an unqualified deck cadet. The officer had seen the fishing vessel and realised there was a risk of collision, but did not take sufficient action to avoid it, it said. When contacted, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it had recently completed a marine safety investigation into the incident and found that the officer-of-the-watch (OOW), who had control of the vessel at the time of the incident, had contravened two rules under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collisions at Sea) regulations. A spokesman said: "First, the OOW did not ensure that the bridge team was properly manned by not having a duty seaman present on the bridge to perform the look-out duties. Second, the OOW did not take sufficient action to avoid colliding with Etoile des Ondes." Findings had indicated that the OOW of Alam Pintar was the only qualified person on the bridge. MPA said it will be taking "appropriate enforcement actions" against the officer. When contacted yesterday in Teignmouth, South England, Mr David Simmonds, owner of the fishing vessel, expressed anger that Alam Pintar did not stop to render help. He said: "It led to a loss of life. Chris could have been saved." Describing Mr Wadsworth as a reliable young man who had been with the company for more than two years, he said he wanted justice to be done, so everyone could move on. Meanwhile, Mr Wadsworth's family has made its claim against the Malaysian Bulk Carriers Group, which operates the Alam Pintar. The company told The Straits Times it has agreed to pay the claim in full, but did not reveal the amount. Its spokesman added that the group is awaiting the findings of MPA, which has jurisdiction in this case. In the interim, relevant crew members have been suspended from their duties. To see more of the Asia News Network, go to http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/ Copyright (c) 2010, The Straits Times, Singapore / Asian News Network Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |