News

The skipper of a fishing vessel was fined £2,700 after pleading guilty to 'failure to keep a good lookout' at Folkestone Magistrates Court following a collision with a coaster in the English Channel .

On 21st March 2007 the Antigua and Barbuda registered coaster was sailing from Rye when the Chief Officer observed a southbound fishing vessel which was on a collision course.

There was no response from attempts to contact the vessel by radio.

While manoeuvring the coaster to try to avoid a collision, the fishing boat hit the coaster on the port quarter.

The coaster sailed into Ramsgate for repairs and the Zeldenrust continued towards the fishing grounds. The arrival of the coaster at Ramsgate with damage was the first the authorities knew of the collision.

Attempts to get Zeldenrust to enter a UK into port initially met with silence. Later it was reported that her damage was minor and she was continuing to fish on the French of the Channel.

Investigations found that the skipper of the Zeldenrust, Robbert van Belzen, was working on the vessels computer and had not seen the coaster and the mate was working on deck repairing nets when he saw the ship. He rushed into the wheelhouse and put the vessel astern but was too late to avoid the collision.

Robbert van Belzen, 48, of Arnemuiden in the Netherlands pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 5 of the Colregs (failure to keep a good lookout).

He was fined £2700 and ordered to pay costs of £8000

The Chairman of the Magistrates said "We took into account the serious damage that was sustained by the other vessel and that the incident had taken place in an area of busy shipping".

Mr. David Fuller Principal Fishing Vessel Surveyor for Eastern Region of the MCA said. "The cause of this collision was simple. A lookout was not being kept. It was fortunate that no one was harmed in this incident and no vessels lost. Skipper and crew of fishing vessels must keep a good lookout and not allow them selves to become distracted or complacent."