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Master fined for almost causing collision

Kolapi Utime, 64, of Viridian Square in Aylesbury, the masrer of the 'Scot Leader', has been fined with £6,384 pounds after almost causing a collision with the 'Stena Edda' in Belfast Lough. The Southampton Magistrates' Court heard that during the incident in March 2021 he turned his vessel in front of the 'Stena Edda', which had 503 people on board. It was found that he increased the speed of his vessel, which is operated by Scotline, creating the risk of a collision. Utime communicated with the 'Stena Edda', requesting that it altered its course to port, which the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said was "contrary to good seamanship and collision avoidance". The Stena ferry had already started to turn starboard to avoid a crash. Utime admitted his role but said his attention had been on the ferry 'Stena Superfast VIII' that was approaching. Mark Flavell of the MCA said it was a "dangerous situation" caused by Utime "failing to adhere to the collision avoidance rules. There could have been disastrous consequences. "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. 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."

Double trouble in Kiel Canal

The "Scot Leader" suffered a failure of the rudder engine on Nov 24, 2017, at 9.55 p.m. during the transit of the Kiel Canal enroute from Riga, where she had sailed on Nov 23, to the UK and ran into the embankment near the freeway brigde in Rade. The ship managed to back off with own power short time later, and the traffic control advised a survey and an investigation by the water police in Rendsburg. Enroute to the communal port another mishap happened when close to the ferry pt. Nobiskrug Yard in Rendsburg the rudder engine failed another time, causing the next grounding. In spite of the failure the ship managed to refloat again at 11.35 p.m. and proceeded to the communal port with own power. The police Brunsbüttel launched an investigation, and the ship was detained until further surveys have been carried out on Nov 27. Ship traffic on the Kiel Canal had to be barred due to the accidents for short time between Schacht-Audorf and Schülp. The "Scot Leader" left the communal port in Rendsburg after repairs on Nov 28 at 2.45 a.m. and resumed the westbound voyage to England, ETA Nov 29. German reports with photos: http://www.kn-online.de/News/Nachrichten-aus-Rendsburg/Zwei-Havarien-auf-dem-Nord-Ostsee-Kanal https://www.shz.de/lokales/landeszeitung/frachter-laeuft-aus-dem-ruder-id18424416.html

Short-Sea Operator Acquires New Leader to Fleet of Regular Wicklow Port Callers

Short-sea operator Scotline have acquired Odertal this month and renamed as Scot Leader joined the company fleet that are regular Wicklow Port callers, writes Jehan Ashmore. The 90m general cargoship Odertal registered in Antigua and Barbuda underwent drydocking in Hull. Works included repainting in Scotline’s house colours with the funnel aptly depicting the ‘Saltire’, the distinctive national flag of Scotland also known as St Andrew's Cross. On completion of drydocking, the newly acquired ship emerged as Scot Leader and under the UK flagged like the rest of the nine-strong company owned fleet that includes Scot Ranger. Only a week ago today, Scot Ranger of 4,500dwt similar to that of the newcomer, was monitored by Afloat.ie bound for Warrenpoint, Co. Down on Carlingford Lough having departed Wicklow Port. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/port-and-shipping-news/item/34480-short-sea-operator-acquires-new-leader-to-fleet-of-regular-wicklow-port-callers