What Crew Members Say About Accolade-Ii

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has officially published its investigation report concerning the collision between the fishing vessel 'Sandgroper' and the bulk carrier 'Accolade II' that occurred on February 29, 2020, shortly after 4:30 a.m. off the Port Adelaide entrance, where darkness prevailed but visibility was clear. The incident led to substantial structural damage on the starboard bow of the 'Sandgroper', while the 'Accolade II' experienced only minor damage to its deck structures and railings. Notably, the 'Sandgroper's anchor was discovered wedged within the deck railings of the 'Accolade II'. ATSB Director of Transport Safety, Stuart Macleod, remarked, "In the moments leading up to the collision, neither vessel maintained an adequate lookout using all available resources. Consequently, the awareness of the impending collision risk was not established until mere moments before impact, rendering effective avoidance impossible." Macleod emphasized that the bridge team on the 'Accolade II' lacked a comprehensive understanding of the surrounding traffic and the potential for collision once they exited the port channel: "The ship's radar was not utilized effectively, and no dedicated lookout was assigned during the night. Although the captain of the 'Sandgroper' initially spotted the 'Accolade II' inside the channel, a proper lookout was not consistently maintained through the use of all available means, including radar and monitoring the port's operational communications." Consequently, the skipper of the 'Sandgroper' failed to recognize that the 'Accolade II' had left the channel, leading to the precarious situation. Macleod noted that had an AIS (Automatic Identification System) been active, it would have significantly enhanced detection chances for the 'Accolade II's' bridge team, allowing for timely collision avoidance. Following the incident, the ATSB reported that the 'Sandgroper' has now been outfitted with an AIS, while the management of the 'Accolade II' confirmed a navigational audit of its operations has been completed, resulting in several recommendations aimed at enhancing bridge resource management protocols. For more detailed information, you can access the full report here: https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/mair/350-mo-2020-001/

On February 29, 2020, the maritime scene in Adelaide took a serious turn when the cargo vessel 'Accolade II' encountered a collision with the fishing boat 'Sand Groper'. The 'Accolade II', which had just departed from the Adelaide Brighton Cement facility and was en route to Klein Point, sustained only minor damage from the incident. In contrast, the 'Sand Groper' suffered notable harm, particularly to its starboard bow and stabilizer. In response to this maritime mishap, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has initiated a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the collision.