Executive summary
On Sunday, 29 December 1996, at approximately 2233 hours, a collision occurred at the entrance to Wellington Harbour between the container vessel "Sydney Express", which was outbound, and the fishing trawler "Maria Luisa", which was inbound. The "Maria Luisa" capsized in the collision and five of the six crew members lost their lives. Safety deficiencies identified included poor bridge resource management on the "Sydney Express" and contravention of the collision regulations by the "Sydney Express", "Maria Luisa" and a third vessel, the yacht "Soundsgood". Recommendations were made relating to bridge resource management training, and a mandatory traffic management scheme for Wellington Harbour.
Related Recommendations
He introduces and ensures effective Bridge Resource Management (BRM) techniques on all vessels under his management.
He make all sea staff in his employment aware of the effect the light illuminating the forecastle can have on the ability of other vessels to distinguish the sidelights of their ship at night.
He ensures all sea staff in his employment record the progress of their vessels, which must be done manually in the absence of automatic recording devices.
Revise and consolidate existing standing orders and instructions into a Beacon Hill Operations Manual. Instructions should include the role of the signal station in monitoring and enforcing the traffic management system, which should include a closed-loop style of communication.
He installs, although not required under SOLAS, an ARPA to one of the radar sets on each vessel under his management.