Contact made by general cargo vessel Orade with light beacon
Location: Apex Light beacon on the River Ouse, England.
Accident Investigation Report 23/2005
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken, and recommendations:
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Summary
At 2154 on 1 March 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda registered general cargo vessel Orade collided with the Apex Light tower at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Trent while outbound from Howdendyke on the River Ouse. Orade subsequently grounded on the stone training walls of the Rivers Ouse and Trent.
Safety Issues
- poor communications between the master and the pilot
- the master was probably suffering from fatigue as he had been working a 6 hours on/6 hours off watchkeeping routine for the previous 5 and a half months
- the pilot had not checked that the changeover had been successful, and did not notice that his initial steering requests were having no effect
- the rudder angle indicator was poorly sited, the pilot was unfamiliar with this vessel and there was poor control lighting
Recommendations
Recommendations have been made to the UK’s Port Marine Safety Code Steering Group and the vessel operator, on safety issues identified during the investigation which relate to fatigue, bridge team management and ergonomics.
This report was published in December 2005.