Skipper of cargo vessel fined after near miss collision with passenger ship

The skipper of a cargo vessel has today (August 27) been fined after pleading guilty to causing a near collision with a passenger ship in a prosecution brought by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team.

Captain Kolapi Utime, aged 64, of Viridian Square, Aylesbury, appeared before Southampton Magistrates Court today – and was fined a total of £6,384 after accepting responsibility for a near close quarter collision which occurred in Belfast Lough on 19 March earlier this year.

That Friday morning, Captain Utime was the master of 90-metre long cargo vessel, ‘Scot Leader’ – a vessel operated by Scotline – which had departed Belfast Port bound for the Lough.

On approach into the Lough, Captain Utime had been made aware of two fast-approaching ferries, ‘Stena Superfast VIII’, en-route from Cairnryan and the 214-metre long ‘Stena Edda’ – a vessel which was carrying 503 people onboard and travelling at 17 knots – after leaving the Port of Liverpool.

When approaching the Stena Edda, Captain Utime was found to have increased the speed of his own vessel – turning across the front of the Stena Edda, in what was contrary to the rules for preventing collisions, creating a close quarter situation and risk of collision.

Captain Utime continued with his turn and within minutes – before a potential impact – communicated with the Stena Edda, requesting that the vessel alter its course to port and pass behind his vessel, again contrary to good seamanship and collision avoidance. However, at that time, the Stena Edda had already begun to turn to starboard to avoid the collision. 

When interviewed by the MCA on 11 May 2021, Captain Utime admitted to being responsible for this near collision, adding that his attention had been on the approaching Stena Superfast VIII ferry and that he had not properly assessed the speed of the Stena Edda and how close it was.

Mark Flavell, Lead Investigator with the MCA’s Regulatory Compliance Investigations Team, said: “This was a dangerous situation caused by the master of the vessel failing to adhere to the collision avoidance rules, which could have had disastrous consequences if a collision had occurred with the large passenger ferry.

“The MCA will always look to take appropriate and necessary action, prosecuting those seafarers who jeopardise others by showing a complete disregard for the laws of the sea. We want to send a clear message such offences are not acceptable and those unwilling to follow rules and regulation and improve standards of safety will face the full weight of the law.”


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