ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΑΓΓΛΙΚΑ Ε ΠΛΟΙΑΡΧΩΝ

The vessel was carrying a cargo of ferrosilicon from Iceland to England when it ran aground Swona Island. The ensuing investigation revealed that the master had implemented a bridge watch routine that did not accord the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention. In particular, a designated lookout during navigation darkness was not always used. Around two months before the grounding, it had been pointed in a port state control inspection carried out in the Netherlands that the master’s bridge watch arrangement did not accord the convention. As a result, the owners’ designated person ashore instructed the master to ensure compliance the applicable rules and regulations, both issuing a non-conformity note and by giving oral instructions to the master. Irrespective of this, the master continued the same watch system and made false entries the deck logbook to make it appear as if a separate lookout were being used when it was dark. In the early morning of January 2, 2007, the duty officer fell asleep and about 45 minutes the vessel continued sailing any lookout. A strong current brought the vessel off its track and onto the rocks off Swona Island.