UK Ship Master & Operator Sentenced For Fatal 2021 Collision Off Sweden

A UK court has sentenced a cargo ship’s master and its operating company for their roles in a fatal collision that claimed two lives in Swedish waters.

The verdict was announced on February 14, 2025, at Southampton Crown Court after a four-week trial investigating the December 13, 2021, accident involving the Scot Carrier, a UK-registered cargo vessel, and the Danish-flagged Karin Hoj.

The accident occurred in the Bornholmsgattet Strait, a busy waterway between Sweden and Denmark, when the Scot Carrier, a 4,700 dwt general cargo ship, struck the Karin Hoj, a self-propelled barge.

This caused the barge to capsize, killing both crew members onboard. The court proceedings examined the circumstances leading to the collision and the failures that led to the tragedy.

The ship’s operating company, Intrada Ships Management Ltd, was found guilty under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 for failing to ensure safe operations. The company received a fine of £180,000 and was ordered to pay £500,000 in costs.

The vessel’s master, Sam Farrow, aged 33, from Tower Hamlets, London, was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Additionally, he was required to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work and pay £25,000 in costs, along with a victim surcharge. Farrow admitted to breaching the Merchant Shipping (International Safety Management Code) Regulations 2014, as he failed to ensure that the ship was operated safely.

The investigation found that the Second Officer, Mark Wilkinson, was alone on the bridge at the time of the collision. He was intoxicated and engaged in online chats, neglecting his duty to monitor the ship’s navigation.

The bridge watch alarms had been turned off, leaving him unaware that the Scot Carrier was dangerously close to the Karin Hoj.

Court documents revealed that Farrow, the ship’s master, had earlier dismissed the First Officer from duty due to suspected intoxication. However, he failed to remove Wilkinson, who had also been drinking and left him in charge of the bridge.

During the shift handover, Farrow was reportedly distracted by a phone call to his mother, delaying any intervention that could have prevented the crash.

The court criticised the lack of a proper lookout, calling it the biggest failure that led to the collision. Judge Peter Henry said the ship’s management demonstrated a “lax approach to safety.”

Further investigations revealed that Intrada had received previous warnings about violations concerning officers keeping watch alone.

Reports indicate that another vessel under Intrada’s management, the Scot Explorer, was involved in a separate collision in October 2023 when it struck an LPG carrier under similar conditions.

After the accident, Swedish authorities detained the Scot Carrier, and Mark Wilkinson was extradited to Denmark. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to negligent manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency discussed the need for stricter adherence to safety rules to prevent similar maritime tragedies. Authorities continue to urge shipping companies to enhance training and implement measures to ensure proper navigational oversight.

Reference: MCA

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