Always have a proper passage plan and appropriate scale charts warns The Nautical Insitute in a new Mars Report. In the incident described, a fishing vessel grounded after setting a course using just a chart plotter.
A medium sized fishing vessel with 27 crew on board drifted overnight, waiting until the next day to make their scheduled arrival at the pilot boarding area. When the master and the chief officer took over the watch the next morning it was still dark.
Using the chart plotter, which was not an ECDIS, the master set the course straight to the pilot boarding area. About forty minutes later, the vessel ran aground on charted rocks at the periphery of an island at a speed of about eight knots. The vessel did not have the proper large-scale charts for the area, and the chart plotter did not show the rocks.
A small hole was observed in the bow as well as a damaged propeller. Luckily, the vessel could be refloated at high water and towed into port.
Investigation findings
The investigation determined that the master had based his decision on an incorrect understanding that they had safe water. Had an appraisal been conducted and a formal voyage plan prepared based on the applicable charts and nautical publications, it is virtually certain the navigational hazards would have been identified and a course set that kept the vessel clear of those hazards.
Advice from The Nautical Institute
Mars Reports
This accident was covered in the Mars Reports, originally published as Mars 202541. A selection of the Mars Reports are also published in the SWZ|Maritime magazine. The Nautical Institute compiles these reports to help prevent maritime accidents. That is why they are also published (in full) on SWZ|Maritime’s website.
