Cargo Ship Master & Operator Sentenced for Fatal Collision

On February 14, the UK’s Southampton Crown Court sentenced the master of a North Sea cargo ship and the company operating the vessel for their roles in a 2021 fatal accident. The master, on his first voyage in command, admitted to failing to follow the ship’s safety management plan, while the shipping company was convicted after a four-week trial for not ensuring the safe operation of its vessels.

The case stemmed from a December 13, 2021, collision between the Scot Carrier, a 4,700 dwt cargo ship, and the Danish barge Karin Høj in a busy shipping lane between Denmark and Sweden. The barge capsized, killing both crew members on board.

Following the accident, Swedish authorities suspected alcohol was involved and detained the Scot Carrier, which had initially left the scene. The ship’s second officer, British national Mark Wilkinson, was extradited to Denmark, where he pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter and was sentenced in 2022 to 18 months in prison.

“This was an accident waiting to happen,” stated Judge Peter Henry during the sentencing. He criticized the ship’s poor safety culture, noting a “laissez-faire attitude” toward maintaining lookouts, despite regulations requiring them.

Investigations revealed that Wilkinson was alone on the bridge at 3:25 a.m. when the crash occurred. The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found that he had disabled warning alarms on the navigation system and was distracted by an internet conversation with a woman when he made the fatal course correction without checking his surroundings.

Additional details emerged in the trial. Sam Farrow, the 33-year-old master from London, suspected the first officer was intoxicated and had removed him from duty that night. However, Farrow was also distracted by a phone call to his mother when he handed over control to Wilkinson.

The court heard that basic safety procedures were routinely ignored, and it was believed that Farrow knew Wilkinson had consumed alcohol before taking over the watch. Wilkinson, however, stated in his trial that he did not believe he was intoxicated.

Farrow was found guilty of failing to take necessary safety actions despite knowing Wilkinson was unfit for duty. He was sentenced to eight months in jail, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £25,000 ($31,550) in costs. To avoid imprisonment, he must complete 200 hours of unpaid community service and pay a victim surcharge.

“The failure to provide lookouts was undoubtedly the single biggest failure," Judge Henry concluded. "But the failure to properly oversee and enforce bridge discipline created additional distractions, which aligned to cause the collision.”

Intrada Ships Management, which operates Scotline, was found guilty of failing to ensure the vessel was operated safely. The company was fined £180,000 ($227,000) and ordered to pay £500,000 ($630,000) in costs. Reports indicate Intrada spent £1 million (nearly $1.3 million) on legal fees.