Ile D Yeu - Run down by a tanker off Whitby at night: the Ile D Yeu
On a winter night off Whitby, the wooden yacht Ile D Yeu — yawing in a force 5 swell and a poor radar target — was sunk in collision with the coastal chemical tanker Dutch Progress; her three crew survived.
What happened.
On the night of 6 February 2006, the 13.28 m wooden sailing yacht Ile D Yeu, with three aboard, was sunk in a collision with the coastal chemical tanker Dutch Progress about 4 miles east of Whitby. The tanker's officer had seen the yacht's red light at 4 miles but took no compass bearing or radar plot, and could not acquire the small wooden yacht on either radar. All three crew survived; the yacht was lost.
At 2202 UTC on 6 February 2006, the 13.28-metre wooden pleasure yacht Ile D Yeu, with three people aboard, collided with the 91-metre chemical tanker Dutch Progress about 4 miles east of Whitby and was lost. Dutch Progress was on passage from the Tees to Antwerp; Ile D Yeu was sailing from Bridlington to Whitby in a northerly force 5 wind and swell, with good visibility apart from occasional snow showers. The tanker's officer of the watch had seen the yacht's red sidelight and masthead light about 20 degrees on the starboard bow at roughly 4 miles, but could not acquire her on either the 3cm or 10cm ARPA radar — the small wooden hull being a poor target. He took no visual compass bearing and obtained no radar plot, judging by eye that his planned alteration of course to starboard at a waypoint would pass the yacht clear down his port side. The yacht, hand-steered into the swell, was yawing significantly, and both vessels were altering course in the same area off Whitby. No one was hurt and the three crew were recovered, but the yacht sank.
What it teaches.
- 1An assumed clearance is not a safe one — take a bearing or a plot. The tanker's officer saw the yacht's light at 4 miles but never took a compass bearing or radar plot, sure his turn would clear. Watch the compass bearing of an approaching light: if it does not change, you are on a collision course.
- 2A small wooden yacht is a poor radar target — make yourself detectable. The officer could not acquire Ile D Yeu on either the 3cm or 10cm radar. Carry a good radar reflector or an active radar target enhancer, and ideally AIS, so a ship's watchkeeper can actually see and track you at night.
- 3Beware course changes near waypoints and headlands. Both vessels were altering course in the same water off Whitby, the tanker turning to starboard at a planned waypoint. A ship is not always holding the heading you expect — don't assume she will stand on, and give turning points a wide berth.
- 4Yawing in a swell scrambles the picture for everyone. Hand-steered into the northerly swell, the yacht was yawing heavily, muddying her aspect and the lights others saw. In a seaway, hold the steadiest heading you can, and assume your navigation lights may be misread by an approaching ship.
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