Read Authentic Ratings for the Amadeus-Gold

In a significant ruling by the Disciplinary Board for Shipping in Amsterdam, the captain of the 'Amadeus Gold,' a vessel that ran aground during nighttime operations in Denmark on December 9, 2024, has been handed a one-week suspension along with a fine of 500 euros. Additionally, he will serve a one-week suspended sentence subject to a two-year probation period. This decision comes after an investigation initiated by the ILT/Shipping inspector on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, focusing on the captain's seamanship standards. The captain's suspension will commence in six weeks. The Board found that the captain's voyage preparations were inadequate, creating a serious risk of accidents. Factors contributing to the incident included fatigue, insufficient crew capability, and equipment issues. Despite being alerted to these risks, the captain's navigation was executed poorly, partly due to lacking essential charts and not maintaining a proper lookout. As the master of the vessel, he was ultimately accountable for navigating safely, irrespective of any shortcomings from the shipping company or crew. During the hearing in February, the captain admitted to feeling fatigued and emphasized the inadequacies of his crew. He also criticized the shipping company, indicating that they had not responded to his earlier requests for assistance, including a plea to be removed from duty just two days prior to the incident. Furthermore, he noted that the required ECDIS charts for the route were missing. The 'Amadeus Gold' is operated by De Bock Maritiem, a Dutch shipping company based in Alkmaar that owns various vessels for both coastal and inland waterway operations. In their response, De Bock Maritiem rejected the captain's depiction of events, asserting that the lack of the appropriate ECDIS chart was primarily to blame for the grounding, a responsibility that ultimately lies with the captain.

On February 12, 2026, the Disciplinary Board in Amsterdam convened for its initial hearing regarding the grounding of the vessel 'Amadeus Gold' in the Odensefjord, which occurred on December 9, 2024. The Dutch captain faces accusations of inadequate voyage preparation, which allegedly contributed to the maritime incident. Participating remotely via live videoconferencing from Curaçao, the captain shared his perspective on the events leading up to the grounding. The 'Amadeus Gold' was docked in Rotterdam, loaded with steel plates, and destined for Odense when the captain, who had recently flown in from Miami, reported feeling extremely fatigued. This exhaustion reportedly impacted the crew handover process, resulting in subpar communication from the previous captain. Upon boarding, the captain noticed a severe lack of familiarity with the vessel among the officers, highlighted by a helmsman who could not locate the necessary connecting hoses during bunkering operations. In response, the captain opted to delay departure until an engineer could be brought on board after persistent requests to the shipping company. Compounding the challenges, issues with the ship's route and the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) were uncovered. It was determined that the ECDIS lacked updated charts for the region, placing the captain in a situation where he had to rely on external light signals for navigation. Furthermore, the second mate did not respond when summoned, and there was no lookout posted on the bridge. The captain was alone on the bridge, as he had experience in the area and chose not to engage a pilot. At approximately 1:30 a.m. on December 9, the captain misidentified a red buoy on his starboard side, leading to disorientation and ultimately causing the vessel to run aground at a speed of roughly six knots. The 'Amadeus Gold' remained stranded for five days before being towed to the port of Odense, where subsequent inspections confirmed the damage to be minor. When questioned about his decision to continue sailing despite several warning signs, the captain remarked, "I am a proud man who likes to fulfill my commitments." While he acknowledged his misjudgments, he attributed some responsibility to the shipping company, noting that he had previously requested to be relieved due to fatigue and crew inexperience. The 'Amadeus Gold' is owned by De Bock Maritiem, a shipping firm based in Alkmaar that specializes in operations within coastal and inland waters. The current hearing is focused on determining the extent of the captain's liability in this incident. Notably, the shipping company did not have representatives present at the hearing. The Disciplinary Board is expected to deliver its verdict on March 27.