Swedish Pilot and Ship Captain Face Trial After Fatal 5,310 DWT Collision
Prosecutors charge both for negligence after pleasure boat tragedy near Tjörn kills two and injures two others.
A Swedish pilot and the Russian captain of the 5,310 dwt cargo ship Misje Verde will stand trial next month for their roles in a deadly collision that killed two people and injured two others near Tjörn on Sweden’s west coast. Prosecutors allege both failed to maintain a proper lookout and violated maritime traffic rules when the vessel struck a small pleasure boat on July 28.
The cargo ship, bound for Norway, did not stop until instructed by the Swedish Coast Guard, despite the pleasure boat sinking and its occupants being thrown into the water. The father and son were rescued by another boat, but the mother and daughter drowned, their bodies later recovered alongside the wreckage.
Why Both the Pilot and Captain Are Being Prosecuted
Senior Prosecutor James von Reis von Reis confirmed the charges on August 28, marking a rare case where a pilot faces legal consequences for an accident involving a piloted vessel. “It is unusual for a pilot to be prosecuted for having been involved in a maritime accident involving the piloted vessel,” von Reis stated. “In this case, the police investigation revealed that the pilot took a very active role in the vessel’s operation and accepted that the master was doing other things on the bridge than those related to operation.”
Norwegian Cruise Line
According to the indictment, the defendants violated the Road Traffic Act by failing to give way to the overtaken pleasure boat. Prosecutors reviewed data from the ship’s Voyage Data Recorder (VDR), AIS, and GPS systems, which revealed that the recreational boat was clearly visible as a radar echo on the bridge’s displays.
The captain, a Russian national, was detained shortly after the collision due to concerns he might flee or interfere with the investigation. The pilot, who was the only other person on the bridge at the time, was later charged alongside him.
What the Evidence Reveals About the Collision
The Misje Verde, a Norwegian-flagged cargo ship, was required to carry a pilot while navigating Sweden’s coastal waters. However, prosecutors argue that the pilot’s involvement went beyond advisory, effectively sharing operational control of the vessel.
The VDR recordings, which capture audio and radar data from the bridge, were crucial in reconstructing the moments leading up to the collision. Prosecutors assert that the pleasure boat’s radar signature was unmistakable and should have prompted evasive action. Instead, the Misje Verde continued its course, striking the smaller vessel’s stern and leaving it to sink. The Coast Guard’s intervention was the only reason the cargo ship eventually stopped, allowing for the rescue of the surviving victims.
The trial, set to begin on September 10, will examine not only the defendants’ actions but also the broader implications for pilotage regulations.
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