ATSB Report- Jessica Watson and cargo ship share blame

by Sineva Toevai/ATSB on 18 Jun 2010 Teenage sailor Jessica Watson and the watchkeepers of a Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier were both to blame for a collision between their vessels in Queensland last year, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found.

The ATSB’s final report on the collision between Ella’s Pink Lady and bulk carrier Silver Yang on September 9 found that the watchkeepers were engaged in non-work related conversations in the lead up to the collision while Miss Watson fell asleep shortly before impact.

The collision occurred during the teenager's inaugural solo sail on the yacht, travelling from Mooloolaba to Sydney before the start of her successful attempt to sail around the world solo and unassisted.

“Neither Ella’s Pink Lady’s skipper nor Silver Yang’s watchkeepers were using all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances to make a full appraisal of the traffic situation in the area and the risk of collision,” ATSB said.

ATSB also found that Silver Yang’s watchkeepers did not offer help to Miss Watson immediately after the collision.

'This is a timely reminder that, under United Nations' conventions, ship operators have an obligation to offer assistance immediately to other vessels following a collision,' ATSB chief commissioner Martin Dolan said.

The following key safety measures were implemented following the ATSB investigation:

• Ella’s Pink Lady’s radar visibility was enhanced before her departure from Sydney;

• the international requirement to render assistance following a collision has been highlighted;

• attention was drawn to the possible limits in the detectability of Class B Automatic Identification System transmissions; and

• Silver Yang's operators intend to undertake further training of deck officers.