Mv-Scot-Carrier Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On February 14, 2025, Captain Sam Farrow, who was at the helm of the 'Scot Carrier' during its fatal encounter with the 'Karin Høj' on December 13, 2021, received an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Southampton Crown Court. This tragic incident led to the loss of two crew members' lives. The court found that Captain Farrow neglected to ensure safety protocols were followed, notably allowing his 33-year-old second officer, who was alone on the bridge, to improperly fulfill his duties. The officer had reportedly consumed alcohol and engaged with others online via his tablet, resulting in navigation alarms being silenced and a lack of awareness regarding the collision. Captain Farrow admitted to failing to adhere to the safety management system required for operating the vessel. Meanwhile, Intrada, the in-house management entity for the UK shipping firm Scotline, was found guilty of not operating the ship safely. Evidence presented during a four-week trial indicated that the management had previously been alerted about the unsafe practice of officers navigating alone, yet failed to implement necessary preventive measures. In June 2022, the second officer was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Denmark after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter due to his drinking on the bridge, and he was subsequently banned from Danish territory for 12 years, with his maritime license revoked. An investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) revealed that the watchkeeper on the 'Scot Carrier' altered its course without ensuring the action was safe. Alarmingly, neither watchkeeper from either vessel responded adequately to the emerging crisis, leading to the disastrous collision.

A recent report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has uncovered alarming details surrounding the collision of the 'Scot Carrier' with the hopper barge 'Karin Hoj' (IMO: 8685844) in the Baltic Sea on December 13, 2021. The investigation revealed that the vessel's watchkeeper was operating alone on the bridge and became sidetracked by a tablet computer during the critical moments leading up to the incident. The report states that the watchkeeper altered the ship's course without ensuring it was safe, and neither crew on the involved vessels took the necessary precautions or actions to avert disaster. Notably, neither the 'Scot Carrier' nor the 'Karin Hoj' had lookouts posted, which is especially vital during nighttime and periods of limited visibility. Evidence suggested that the watchkeeper on the 'Scot Carrier' might have also been under the influence of alcohol. At 01:48 a.m. local time, the second officer engaged in a video chat with a stranger via his tablet. By 02:02 a.m., while still participating in the conversation, he changed the ship's course. His distractions continued as he used the vessel's searchlight to showcase the deck and cargo to the online chat participants. As the chat progressed, at 03:26 a.m., the chit-chat was interrupted when the officer noticed an oncoming light near the starboard bow. He reactively exclaimed, "Wait, wait, wait!", and tried to retract the main engine's propeller pitch, activated a second steering motor, and turned off the autopilot. However, within a minute, the vessel collided with the port side of the 'Karin Hoj'. Shockingly, the second officer failed to alert the master or raise the alarm immediately following the impact, instead returning the vessel to its original course and speed. The collision prompted the activation of the 'Karin Hoj's' EPIRB, which alerted Danish and Swedish coastguard authorities to the emergency. In a related legal outcome, the 30-year-old watchkeeper was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Denmark in June 2022 for involuntary manslaughter after admitting to consuming alcohol while on duty. His access to Danish territory has been restricted with a 12-year ban, and he has also lost his license to operate vessels in Danish waters. The MAIB has urged the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to emphasize the crucial need for employing lookouts alongside bridge watchkeepers, particularly during nighttime or reduced visibility in UK waters, reinforcing the absolute requirement for ship safety. For a detailed examination of the incident, you can view the full report here: https://www.havkom.se/assets/reports/S-308_21-ScotCarrier-KarinHoej-ReportAndAnnex.pdf

In a troubling incident involving the 'Scot Carrier', two crew members were discovered to be operating under the influence, surpassing the legal alcohol limit. This situation arose in the aftermath of the tragic collision with the 'Karin Høj', which resulted in the death of at least one crew member from Denmark, while another remains unaccounted for. The Swedish Prosecution Authority has initiated a preliminary inquiry into multiple alleged offenses, including gross negligence in maritime operations, causing death by negligence, and marine intoxication. Two individuals, a Briton and a Croatian, have been detained as part of the investigation. Following standard protocols, all crew members aboard the 'Scot Carrier' underwent drug and alcohol testing, revealing that two of them had exceeded permissible limits. The incident occurred when the 'Scot Carrier' docked at Ystad port on December 13 at 7:30 PM. Authorities are taking action as the 'Karin Høj' is scheduled to be towed to Skillingen on December 14, where it will be uprighted by the Danish salvage vessel 'Susanne A'.