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License suspended for three weeks after grounding incident

The captain of the 'Schotsman' which ran aground north of Breskens on Feb 16, 2021, has been conditionally suspended for three weeks by the Disciplinary Court for Shipping. If he makes another mistake within his probationary period of two years, he will still lose his navigation license for three weeks. After the dredger got stuck close to buoy VH-2, a part of the cargo was transferred to the barge 'Marlea', so that the vessel was able to continue sailing an hour later. “Based on experience, I determined that it was safe to go through that area. I've sailed there thousands of times. I know that there are many shallows and that it is not a main waterway, but a secondary waterway. I take into account the water level there," the skipper defended himself at the disciplinary committee. By reacting quickly, the captain was able to prevent damage to the vessel. Nevertheless, the disciplinary committee judged that he had failed in his responsibilities. He certainly should have known how deep it was when he sailednear buoy VH-2, the Board found. The captain should also have informed the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) after the accident, exactly as indicated by a Rijkswaterstaat employee who had been on board the dredger. The skipper was also accused of continuing to sail with the ship without informing the ILT.

Grenade aboard dredger

On June 29, 2016, an explosive was found during dredging works of the "Schotsman" at 1.20 p.m. The ship proceeded to the Commercial port of Breskens where the fire rescue attended the ship. The police established a safety zone. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal proceeded to investigate the grenade in the evening on the spot. Until then, the area remained barred. Dutch report with video: http://www.hvzeeland.nl/nieuws/29818-explosief-gevonden-op-schip-breskens/