Boating Collision Official Report Released

Many people will recall the tragic collision of the Sydney ferry Pam Burridge and the private boat Merinda just over a year ago in March 2007. The collision killed four of the twelve people on board the Merinda.

The collision took place under the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the dark. This is a very busy area close to Circular Quay where the harbour narrows considerably.

The Office of Transport Safety Investigations has just released its report into the accident. The operators of both vessels come in for criticism.

It seems obvious with hindsight that you should not be out at night without any navigation lights especially in a busy area. The Merinda was captured earlier in the evening on CCTV showing her navigation lights working but later in the evening, after a stop in Darling Harbour, only the cabin lights were on. The crew of the Merinda are adamant that the navigation lights were on when they left Darling Harbour. CCTV footage taken shortly after they left Darling Harbour shows that only the cabin lights were on. The helmsman and lookout chose to operate the Merinda from inside the main cabin restricting their ability to keep a proper lookout. Both the helmsman and lookout did not see the Pam Burridge before the collision although she was approaching on their starboard bow.

The Master of the ferry was travelling at 21 knots. He was on his way back to the ferry’s overnight berth having completed the last run of the day. The ferry master was criticised for not going at a safe speed. There is no speed limit in this part of the Harbour. However you are required to operate your vessel at a safe speed. This means a speed at which you are able to avoid a collision taking into account the prevailing conditions. Operating the ferry at 21 knots seems unnecessary and a bit excessive under the circumstances.

Also safety rules for that area dictate he should have been on the north side of the harbour but he turned early and was on the “wrong” side of the channel for the direction he was travelling in. Although keeping a proper lookout the master of the Pam Burridge was unable to see the Merinda in time to avoid a collision.

Read the full report here.