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On September 27, 2011, the Houston Chronicle reported that pilot fatigue and other factors caused a ship collision last year. The recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) final report finds that the accident was due to pilot error.
A tanker and a towboat collided in the Gulf of Mexico Sabine-Neches Ship Channel in Port Arthur, Texas in January 2010, causing a large oil spill. The pilot of the tanker, the Eagle Otome, has been blamed. According to the NTSB, lack of communication, fatigue, and distractions all combined to cause the collision with the towboat Dixie Vengeance.
The tanker pilot was found to be fatigued, which caused him to take an unnecessary turn and hit the tugboat. The second pilot was reading the newspaper, violating safety rules that state that the second pilot should be handling radio communications while the first navigates the ship. In addition, the two were not in compliance with communication guidelines.
According to NTSB Chairwoman Deborah A.P. Hersman, "The greatest lesson perhaps that we can draw from this accident is that guidelines and procedures are in place for a reason."
The pilot is believed to suffer from a sleep disorder which, when added to an irregular work schedule, made it difficult for him to navigate the narrow waterway. In addition, the NTSB found that the ship's console was irregularly configured and may also have contributed to the accident.
The Young Firm is happy that no injuries occurred in this incident, but want all Louisiana Jones Act seamen to be aware that safety must always come first. If you or a loved one has been injured in a maritime accident that you think was someone else's fault, we want to hear about it. Call us toll free today at 866-938-6113 for a free consultation.
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