Swedish Court Blames Captain and Pilot for Deadly 90-Metre Cargo Ship
A Gothenburg court found both the Russian captain and Swedish pilot negligent in the July collision.
A Swedish court has ruled that the Russian captain and Swedish pilot of the 5,310 dwt cargo vessel Misje Verde were negligent in a July collision that sank a small pleasure boat, killing two people and injuring two others. The District Court in Gothenburg found both men failed to maintain a proper lookout, violating maritime navigation rules that required the larger vessel to give way to the smaller boat.
The incident occurred on July 28 in an archipelago area off Sweden’s western coast. The 90-metre (295-foot) dry cargo ship struck and sank a 7-8 metre pleasure boat carrying a family of four. The father, who survived along with his son, testified in court that he only saw the Misje Verde when it was just a few metres behind his boat. Despite attempts to swerve, the pleasure boat was pulled under the cargo ship’s bulbous bow.
The Swedish Accident Investigation Board determined that the pleasure boat was visible on radar, and under maritime rules, the overtaking cargo vessel was obligated to yield. However, the Misje Verde did not stop after the collision. Authorities only informed the captain later, after the vessel had already begun disembarking its pilot. Another private boat rescued the father and son, while the mother and daughter were found deceased the following day during a search of the area.
Why the Court Found Both Captain and Pilot at Fault: Cargo Ship
The court’s ruling highlighted critical lapses in bridge management. The Russian captain admitted leaving the bridge at one point to complete paperwork, while the Swedish pilot assumed responsibilities beyond the scope of a standard pilotage assignment. The investigation revealed that the pilot, who was navigating the vessel, also failed to maintain a proper lookout, despite the heightened risks of operating in a busy summer archipelago.
The captain argued that he believed the pilot was responsible for the lookout, while the pilot claimed the captain had misunderstood his role as the officer of the watch. The court rejected these defences, stating that both men shared responsibility for the collision. “The pleasure boat should have been detected and the collision avoided if the lookout had been properly maintained,” the ruling stated. Both were found guilty of negligence in maritime traffic, resulting in death and bodily harm.
“I only saw the 90-metre dry cargo ship when it was a few metres behind my boat.”
Father of the survivors·Witness
While prosecutors had pushed for jail time, the court issued suspended sentences. The pilot was ordered to pay a fine, while the captain, who had been detained during the investigation, was released with a suspended sentence. Both men have denied guilt and plan to appeal the verdict.
Following the verdict, pilotage services in the Marstrand area were temporarily suspended on Wednesday and Thursday, disrupting operations for about 10 ships. Occupational health services advised the pause, citing concerns for pilots’ mental well-being after the emotionally charged trial.
La sentencia, no firme, podrá ser recurrida ante el Tribunal de Apelación de Gotemburgo en un plazo de cuatro semanas desde su notificación. Mientras, las autoridades portuarias confirmaron que los servicios de practicaje en Marstrand se reanudarán el próximo lunes, tras evaluar los protocolos de seguridad durante la reunión prevista para este viernes con la Autoridad Marítima Sueca.
Sign up free to ask CAMAL AI for a summary, the key points or anything else about this story.
Related stories
CAMAL AI
Financial Ports Newsletter
The maritime economy, every morning
Ports, shipping and freight markets in one short email. Free.
