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Emergency Command ended its operational control

1,5 days after the collision of the 'Verity' with the 'Polesie, the emergency command handed over overall operational control on Oct 25 at 4.30 p.m. to the Weser-Jade-Nordsee Waterways and Shipping Office, which will now be in charge of operations. The Federal Maritime Police Directorate is responsibleregarding the accident investigation. The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation will carry out the investigation into the casualty in cooperation with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (UK). The radar images and radio recordings were secured by the Federal Office for Maritime Casualty Investigation in Hamburg. The evaluation of the voyage data recorder, of the “Polesie” which will also be read out, was expected to provide further insights. Whether the “Verity” also had such a device on board is still being investigated. Due to the size of the “Verity” with only 2,601 gt , it is exempt from the obligation to be equipped with such a recording device according to the rules of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The investigators were hoping to gain initial information from questioning the crew of the bulk carrier owned by the Polish Polsteam Shipping Company, which remained stationary in Cuxhaven since Oct 25. Since the freighter is homported in Nassau, the Hamburg investigators from the BSU are responsible for the maritime accident investigation of the Bahamas. The second partner for the investigators is the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which is also in charge and sent six investigators. Based on the initial situation in the TSS in the German Bight, the ‘Polesie’ would have had the right of way. An interesting question is why there was a change of course oft the “Polesie” shortly before the collision The investigators also want to analyze the traffic situation in the so-called Terschelling-German Bight traffic separation area off the East Frisian Islands and the German Bight Western Approach traffic separation area further north. The accident occurred at a point where shipping routes intersect, and it is being checked which right-of-way rules applied and whether the ships have agreed otherwise. No information can be given on this yet. The ships themselves were both technically in good condition. The “Verity” was regularly traveling in the German Bight. This time she had loaded steel coils bound from Bremen for Immingham. Regarding the wreck, so far, around 90 liters of diesel fuel have come to the surface of the water, but have not drifted towards Heligoland or the coast. The “Verity” had on board around 127 cubic meters of diesel. The accident command is working on a so-called salvage order for the wreck of the “Verity”, which means the authorities are instructing the owner to take remedial action in order is to stop the fuel leak or to salvage the ship. Photo: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3640755?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest

Search for missing crew stopped

After the collision of the bulk carrier 'Polesie' (IMO: 9488097), with the 'Verity' approximately 12 nautical miles southwest of the island of Heligoland, a second crew member has been found alive and was taken to shore aboard the lifeboat 'Hermann Marwede' for treatment in hospital. Another crew member was recovered dead, so that four crew members were still missing. The “Verity”, besides its cargo of steel, had 1300 cbm fuel on board. Both vessels wanted to leave the German Bight, when the collision off Helgoland occurred and were on their way in their traffic corridor Shortly before the accident, the 'Verity' had dropped off the pilot after leaving the Weser. The AIS signal went out immediately after the ships collided, indicating a quick sinking. The 'Polesie' with a draught of 10 meters had loaded a cargo of sugar. In the afternoon, the 'Windcrew 1' has arrived with divers to search the interior of the ship for traces of the crew at 3 p.m., the time of the backwater, after the wreck search ship ' Atair' located the wreck in a water depth of 30 meters in one piece. The descent started at 3:15 p.m. The goal was to look for signs of life. The search was unsuccessful: the divers were unable to gain any information. The onset of strong currents initially made further attempts impossible. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, the rescuers continued the SAR measures. There were relatively challenging weather conditions in the sea area with waves of up to three meters. The water temperature was 12 degrees. From 8 p.m., the lifeboats 'Hamburg' of the Borkum DGzRS station, 'Ernst Meier-Hedde' of the Amrum station and 'Hermann Marwede' (German Bight/Heligoland station) were in the search area. In addition, the federal police ship 'Bad Düben' the customs boat 'Jade', the 'Bürgermeister Weichmann' of the water police and the pilot tender 'Wangerooge' were following the search tracks. Thermal imaging cameras and night vision devices are used to support the search. The German Navy's three NH90 Sea Lion and Sea King helicopters were still on search mission too. The 'Atair' of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency and the multi-purpose vessel 'Mellum' of the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration were also continuing to provide support near the scene of the accident. The search was finally stopped in the night to Oct 25. Due to the numerous units - ships and helicopters - in the area, it had been possible to completely search the whole sea area again at night. After this produced no results, the emergency services stopped the search. The surface search will not be resumed on oct 25 either. The accident command will decide in the morning what measures can be taken around the accident site during the day. The 'Polesie' berthed at the Sea Bath Bridge in Cuxhaven on Oct 25 at 3.30 a.m. UTC. The ship was able to reach the portunder its own power.

Bulkcarrier disabled

The "Interlink Verity" was disabled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 97 nautical miles east southeast of Gaspe, Quebec, in position 48 33 06N, 62 00 17W, on Aug 12 at 1 p.m. The crew carried out the repairs and the vessel resumed its voyage. The ship arrived at Pointe Noire on Aug 13.