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Captain fined by Disciplinary Board for Shipping in grounding incident
The Dutch captain of the 'Amadeus Gold', which had run aground at night in Denmark on Dec 9, 2024, has received a one-week suspension and a 500 euro fine. In addition, he has been given a one-week suspended sentence with a probationary period of two years. This was decided by the Disciplinary Board for Shipping in Amsterdam. The suspension takes effect in six weeks. The case against the captain was brought by the ILT/Shipping inspector on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management. The lawsuit revolved around the question of whether the captain was guilty of poor seamanship. The captain can still appeal against this ruling. According to the Disciplinary Board, the captain failed to make proper voyage preparations, which significantly increased the risk of sm accident. He sailed while fatigued and, despite multiple warning signs such as problems with the crew and equipment, failed to take appropriate measures. Navigation was insufficiently prepared and executed, partly due to the lack of proper charts and an adequate lookout. As master, he remained ultimately responsible for safe navigation, even when the shipping company or crew fell short. Due to this combination of poor preparation, insufficient supervision, and incorrect decisions, the accident was attributed to his actions. He was accused of not doing enough to familiarise himself and the crew with the ship, causing it to go off course and sail upwind. The hearing took place in February. The captain stated at that time that he was fatigued at the time of the accident. He indicated that the crew on board was not capable. He also pointed out the role of the shipping company and stated that, by his own account, they had ignored his requests for assistance. He had submitted a request to be taken off board two days before the accident. Additionally, the ECDIS charts required for the route were not present. The 'Amadeus Gold' is owned by the Dutch shipping company De Bock Maritiem. The Alkmaar-based company has various vessels in its fleet and is primarily active in coastal and inland waterways. De Bock stated that it did not recognise the picture painted by the captain and pointed to the absence of the correct ECDIS chart as the primary reason for the grounding, for which the captain was responsible.
Hearing at Disciplinary Board in Amsterdam regarding grounding off Odense
On Feb 12, 2026, the first hearing was held at the Disciplinary Board in Amsterdam regarding the grounding of the 'Amadeus Gold' in the Odensefjord on Dec 9, 2024. The Dutch captain was accused of failing to properly prepare for the voyage of the vessel, which allowed the accident to occur. The captain was present via live video link from Curaçao to tell his story. The ship was moored in Rotterdam, loaded with steel plates and destined to the port of Odense. The captain had flown in from Miami. Upon arrival in Rotterdam, he reported being very tired from the journey. As a result, the handover by the previous captain was not optimal. Once on the ship, it became clear to him that the officers on board had little to no knowledge of the ship. During bunkering, the helmsman didn't even know where the connecting hoses were located. The captain decided to remain moored until an engineer could be brought on board. This finally happened after much insistence from the shipping company. Besides the crew problem, there was also a problem with the route and navigation charts. The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) did not have the correct charts for the area. As a result, the captain was largely reliant on the light lines outside. The 2nd mate was called up but did not respond. There was no lookout on the bridge. There was also no pilot on board because the captain himself had been in the area several times. He was therefore on his own on the bridge. On Dec 9 at approximately 1:30 a.m., after seeing a red buoy on the starboard side, the captain became disoriented and was unable to prevent the ship from running agrounda t a speed of approximately six knots. Only after five days was the 'Amadeus Gold' towed to the port of Odense. After an inspection on site and inside the port, the damage turned out to be minor. When asked why the captain ignored several red flags and continued sailing, he replied that "he is a proud man who likes to do what he promises." He admitted to making some wrong decisions but also pointed out the role of the shipping company. A day before the accident, the captain had sent them a message requesting that he be taken off the ship due to fatigue and incompetent crew. The 'Amadeus Gold' belongs to the Dutch shipping company De Bock Maritiem. The Alkmaar-based company operates primarily in coastal and inland waters. The hearing focused on the question of the captain's responsibility. The shipping company was not present. The verdict will be delivered on March 27.
Grounded ship refloated by J.A. Shipping
After several unsuccessful attempts, the 'Amadeus Gold' was successfully pulled free from the bottom in the Odense Fjord on the evening of Dec 12. The ship has been berthed at the Lindø Terminal at around 10 p.m., where it was to be thoroughly examined before it can be given permission to sail further. Several vessels from J. A. Shipping were involved in the salvage operation, which was completed at 9 p.m. The anti pollution ship 'Mette Miljø' was on standby at all times, but leftthe Odense Fjord on the morning of Dec 13.
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