On July 17, 2023, at approximately 07:35 pm local time, a collision occurred between the fishing vessel Mašun and the privately operated motor yacht Ae in the Murter Sea.
At the time of the accident, Mašun had nine crew members on board, while Ae carried four people. As a result of the collision, one crew member of the fishing vessel Mašun tragically lost their life, while the operator of the motor yacht Ae sustained serious injuries. The remaining individuals aboard both vessels were unharmed or suffered minor injuries.
Both vessels sustained material damage. The fishing vessel Mašun suffered damage to its starboard side above the waterline and the starboard stern section of the superstructure but remained seaworthy. Meanwhile, Ae sustained severe bow damage, causing it to sink to the seabed shortly after the collision.
No marine pollution was observed at the collision site or at the location where Ae sank.
✓ AIN05-SL-1/2024
Necessity of Diligent Lookout and Timely Preventive Actions to Avoid Collision Risk
The Agency for Investigation of Accidents in Air, Marine, and Rail Transport emphasizes that diligent lookout and timely preventive actions are fundamental principles of safe and responsible navigation.
A proper lookout, which is the primary duty of a navigator, must be conducted continuously through visual observation, supplemented by all available technical means. Any action taken to avoid a collision must ensure that vessels pass each other at a safe distance, and the effectiveness of such action must be carefully and continuously monitored until the other vessel is safely clear.
A navigator’s responsibility is not just to avoid an imminent collision when danger becomes obvious (which would already be a delayed response), but rather to take all necessary measures to avoid even the risk of collision or dangerously close situations, acting early and at a sufficient distance. As stated in the COLREGs:
“If there is the slightest doubt, it must be assumed that a risk of collision exists.”
Preventive measures for a comprehensive assessment of navigational situations and collision risk, in accordance with COLREGs, include:
Diligent and continuous visual monitoring and listening
Use of all available technical means
Adjusting speed to prevailing conditions
Timely and effective actions to avoid collision.
Use of warning signals when in doubt about the adequacy of another vessel’s actions.
Recipients: This safety advisory is intended for: All individuals operating vessels and members of navigational watch, students and trainees preparing for these roles, legal entities providing maritime education and training, examination boards at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Port Authorities related to navigation rules and collision avoidance.
✓ AIN05-SL-2/2024
Necessity of Understanding the Interconnection and Application of Collision Avoidance Rules
The Agency for Investigation of Accidents in Air, Marine, and Rail Transport stresses that a complete and comprehensive understanding of the Collision Avoidance Rules (COLREGs)—not just individual rules or parts of them, but their interconnected application—is essential for their correct implementation.
The set of rules for collision avoidance must not be interpreted selectively, by isolating only one rule or a part of it, but should always be viewed in their full interrelation and applied as such.
Any deviation from this approach in the dynamic marine environment leads to misinterpretation of navigational situations, resulting in failures to take timely and appropriate actions to prevent collisions.
Recipients: This safety advisory is intended for: All individuals operating vessels and members of navigational watch, students and trainees preparing for these roles, legal entities providing marine education and training, examination boards at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Port Authorities related to navigation rules and collision avoidance.