Marine Accident Report--Collision of U. S. Tankship S. S. EXXON CHESTER and Liberian Freighter M. V. REGAL SWORD in the Atlantic Ocean, Near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, June 18, 1979

摘要

About 1713 e.d.t., on June 18, 1979, the U.S. tankship S.S. EXXON CHESTER and the Liberian freighter M.V. REGAL SWORD collided in dense fog in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Cape Cod, about 1 nautical mile east of the Boston Harbor Traffic Lane Inbound. As a result of the collision, the REGAL SWORD sank and the bow of the EXXON CHESTER was extensively damaged. However, no one was injured. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of the master of each vessel to properly interpret and use the radar information which was available to him. Contributing to the accident were the excessive speeds of both vessels in a dense fog; the failure of the EXXON CHESTER and the REGAL SWORD to reduce speed after hearing a fog signal forward of the beam; the REGAL SWORD's imprecise navigation; the REGAL SWORD's alteration of course to port when the risk of collision existed; and the EXXON CHESTER's alteration of course without accurate information about the location of the REGAL SWORD.