ANALYSIS OF THE CAUSES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE COLLISION BETWEEN TWO SHIPS IN CONSTANTA PORT

Abstract

The prevention of collisions at sea is a very important aspect of maritime transport. Despite the fact that the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea are studied and learned by every Master, deck officer and pilot, the incidents in respect of collisions between ships still continue to occur. The present paper presents the analysis of the causes and circumstances of a real collision case, between two ships, occurred in Constanta port. The analysis was made based on the VDRs recordings provided from the two ships. The main objective of the analysis presented in this paper is to reveal the important aspects that can lead to such a dangerous situation in order to prevent future accidents of this kind through the assessment of its causes and circumstances. The case study presented highlights the importance of knowing the responsibilities and duties of Master, Officer on Watch and Pilot during ship maneuvering in port. Moreover, it brings into attention the importance of an efficient bridge team management and the connection with pilots.