MARCO POLO

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Dutch Safety Board reconstructed collision of water taxi 'MSTX 21' and 'Marco Polo'

The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) has reconstructed the collision of the 'MSTX 21' and the tour boat 'Marco Polo' on July 21, 2022 at 1:19 p.m. in Rotterdam under the Erasmus Bridge and found that inattention and violation of sailing rules characterized the navigation in the minutes prior to the accodemt. The water taxi had picked up four passengers at the Hotel New York at 1:09 p.m. and dropped off the first two in the Rotterdam ferry port, where three people were waiting, a pair with a child. They wanted to take the water taxi, but had not made an appointment. After approval from the control center, the skipper let the three passengers on board. At 1:16 p.m. the water taxi - with the skipper and five passengers on board - left the ferry port and sailed via the Nieuwe Maas in a northeasterly direction to the Leuvehaven. The tour boat was preparing for the third trip on that day and was scheduled to leave at 1:15 p.m.but was a little delayed. There are 84 passengers on board the 'Marco Polo', which finally departed from the Spido mooring pontoon at 1:17 p.m. in a northeasterly direction onto the Nieuwe Maas. The water taxi passes an inland vessel port-to-port and approaches the Erasmus Bridge. On the port side, the driver could still see the 'Marco Polo' almost still. At 1:18 p.m., just before the water taxi passed under the Erasmus Bridge, it passed the passenger ship 'Liza' that was departing. That passage was also port-port, which meant that the 'Liza' was sailing exactly between the water taxi and the 'Marco Polo'. The water taxi could not see the 'Marco Polo' which had now left the quay and in turn was also sailing under the Erasmus Bridge. The Dutch Safety Board has not been able to determine the exact speed of the' Marco Polo', but it would not differ from other times. At 1:19 p.m. and the water taxi wanted to enter the Leuvehaven immediately after passing the Erasmus Bridge. To do this, the skipper made a gentle turn in a northerly direction. The passenger ship 'Liza' was now out of sight, and there was again a direct line of sight between the water taxi and the' Marco Polo'. However, the skipper of the water taxi had his eyes on the Leuvehaven, to see if a ship was coming out of it . Moreover, the captain of the' Marco Polo' did not report the departure on the VHF channel, while he should have done so. The water taxi and the tour boat could see each other for 12 seconds. However, the water taxi was located in the blind spot of the tour boat. One of the passengers warned the skipper of the water taxi. It is unclear whether the skipper heard that warning. The water taxi then suddenly appeared in view of the captain of the 'Marco Polo'. The captain did not expect that, because the agreement is that slow-sailing water taxis sail on the starboard side. In this case, this would have meant that the water taxi would have had to make the crossing from the ferry port and then cross the waterway again at right angles at the Leuvehaven. The only thing left was an emergency stop. But it was too late, and a collision was inevitable. The water taxi capsized and floated upside down in the water. An air bubble ensured that the five passengers and the skipper survived. The skipper tried to open the sliding door of the water taxi, but this did not work. The six occupants were trapped in an air bubble underwater for nine minutes. During that time, another water taxi managed to attach a rope and turn the capsized water taxi. The five passengers and the skipper were able to leave the ship alive via the rear. One of the passengers siffered a broken arm, another bruised ribs, but no fatalities occurred. Report with photos and video: https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2024/01/18/reconstructie-aanvaring-watertaxi-en-rondvaartboot-onoplettendheid-met-grote-gevolgen/