This isn’t supposed to happen. The Hapag-Lloyd 8,749-teu MV Colombo Express and the 8,112-teu MV Maersk Tanjong collided today at the northern end of Egypt’s Suez Canal, near Port Said. No casualties were reported. MV Colombo Express suffered a 20-meter dent on her port bow and lost three containers over the side. The collision is expected to delay traffic in the canal in both directions, pending and investigation and retrieval of the lost containers. From the video and AIS trackof the accident it appears that MV Colombo Express steered into MV Maersk Tanjong
Accident between two vessels in suez canal 29/09/2014 in portsaid
Collision between Colombo Express and Maersk Tanjong off Suez Canal
Commercial pressures on Ship’s Masters for priority in picking up a Suez Canal Pilot first seems to be the cause of this accident. The blame must be shared by the vessels owners/management who are merciless in pressurizing Ship’s Masters to go harder and faster instead of safer and slower.
After watching this collision on video, it is apparent that the MV Colombo Express did turn hard to port and collided with the MV Maersk Tanjong. In watching the stern of the vessels, I did not see evidence of either vessel put on a backing bell to avoid the collision.
The MV Maersk Tanjong did not back down nor did she alter course to avoid being hit by the MV Colombo Express.
I do not know what was being said between the two vessels on Channel 16 bridge to bridge radio.
No matter, both captains are in a world of hurt because of this.
This is a case of road rage at its worse.
The video doesn’t make sense to me. Steering gear failure is possible, but unlikely. A serious failure in communication on the bridge between the captain or mate and the quartermaster is a possibility as well. It will be interesting to see what comes out of the investigation.
What was the VTMS or VTIS or VTS doing. U cannot allow or leave the Masters of the Vsls to follow ROR in such confined n such traffic/piloted waters where none speak or understand the local language. Also the high handedness of the Suez Canal authorities/pilots threatening to land yr Vsl in danger if not given more n more Marlboros cigarettes reduces the Master to a bystander in his own Vsl.
It is the system ie IMO is fully responsible for this incident.
A race for first place. A game of chicken. Who won? Columbo captian probably on meth.
Columbo captain changed lanes without due care and caution.
So we are to believe that a group of individuals just happen to be video-recording two container ships? This doesn’t pass the smell test. If the Suez Canal shipping lanes are disrupted, many will be negatively impacted. A few others will benefit. Test run for something more sinister? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Really? Another conspiracy? Everyone has cell phone video these days. And ships do run into each other everyday.
Two Famous Liners????? ROR & Close Quarter Situations??? Knowing the Condition and behavior of Suez canal & Pilots???
From the Footage I do concur with one of the statements that there seems to have been a complete miscommunication between the vessels. Also what was the traffic Control doing and it shows a complete failure on the part of the bridge team of both ships not to even take any action during the course of events. Really shocked on seeing the footage and even more as a Seaferer.
Sorry, but all comments not hitting the facts. There are:
– both vessel had pilots on board (the most skillfull pilots in tzhe world as I heard sometimes…)
– CMS Colombo Express was in the main Canal as part of the convoy.
– Maersk was entering from SCCT into the main channel, but should giva way to trafic in this channel
– by entering without giving way to trafic in main channel she pushed CMS Colombo Express to the West Side of the channel
– once there, CM Colombo Express encountered the wall effect; despite putting wheel Hard starboard and engine full ahead she could not eliminate the wall effect from the west bank of the channel.
So, the blame should be on the skillfull Marlboro pilots and maybe also the captain of Maersk Tanjong, because he allow the pilot to do so.
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