CECILIE MAERSK

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Helsman of fishing vessel fell asleep before collision with boxship

The collision of the "Le Puffin" and the "Cecilie Maersk" was caused by the helmsman aboard the fishing vessel falling asleep. The investigations of the Maritime Gendarmerie continued. According to preliminary evidence, there was no serious misbehaviour of the one or other crew, and the case will probably be settled between the respective insurers of the freighter and the company Réunimer, owner of the Puffin. The two-day hearings revealed a lack of watch on the side of the "Le Puffin". Indeed, it seemed that the sailor in charge of the watch, while his colleagues and his captain slept, fell asleep which explains why he did not notice the container ship crossing his route on radar. The lapse of attention could not exempt the liability of the cargo ship, which had a proper watch and the radar of which was also in working order to attempt to avoid the collision. It remained to be taken into account whether the situation was correctly evaluated and anticipated aboard the freighter. The damage to the "Le Puffin" has not been evaluated yet. The five crew members of the fishing vessel escaped unharmed but suffered psychological support.

Collision off Madagascar

The French longliner "Le Puffin" (MMSI: 660001000) of ENEZ was in collision with the "Cecilie Maersk on Aug 7, 2018, at 2.30 a.m. The crew of the longliner at 7 a.m. was repatriated safe and sound to the port of Saint Gilles, the ship meanwhile was being towed by the "Ile Sainte Marie" to the shore. The longliner had been en route to the fishing area off the coast of Madagascar. At 2:30, a huge noise awakened the entire crew. The boat was moving in all directions. The container ship had struck the longliner and caused a major water ingress. The boat was disabled immediately and the captain informed the CROSS La Réunion via VHF of the position of the vessel which was then 17 miles west of the port. The captain of the "Le Puffin" triggered all the tags (transponder, tag 306) to warn the other ship that had continued its route. He also ordered the launch of the liferaft. But the five crew members were able to stay on board to stabilize the vessel and stem the water ingress. Meanwhile, the freighter had turned around and came to assist them with a light Zodiac. The SNSM boat "Vincent Bosse" of the SNSM station Saint-Gilles joined the "Le Puffin" around 4:00 a.m. to check the damage, and it was decided to evacuate the ship. The CROSS immediately broadcast a "Mayday relay". The 12-meter fishing vessel was heavily damaged at the bow with a severe water ingress, but it continued to float, while the owner of the fishing vessel had formed a team to board the fishing vessel. The 25-meter vessel "Ile Sainte-Marie" left the West Port at 08:00 a.m. to try to control the water ingress with the help of pumps and tow the ship to the West Port. The crew of the fishing vessel was supported by a Distressed Ship Assistance Team (ANED). The "Cecilie Maersk" which was enroute from Durban berthed in the East Harbour of Port Réunion at 6.20 a.m. At 4.30 p.m. also the "Le Puffin" reached port and was immediately lifted out of the water. French reports with photos and video: https://www.clicanoo.re/Faits-Divers/Article/2018/08/07/VIDEO-Collision-entre-un-navire-de-peche-et-un-cargo-5-marins https://www.linfo.re/la-reunion/faits-divers/collision-entre-le-navire-le-puffin-et-un-cargo-au-large-de-la-reunion#photo-2