Ship Accidents & Collisions May 11, 2010

Crew abandons ship after 2 freighters collide off Oita Prefecture

Monday morning around 4:15 am a Panamanian freighter and a Japanese freighter No. 5 Soya Maru collided approximately 8 miles northwest of Himeshima Island.

The Japanese freighter over turned and its crew of 4 escaped and was rescued by the Panamanian freighter. No injuries from either hip have been reported. An oil slick about 550 yards long and 10 to 50 yards wide that spilled from the freighter is being cleaned up by a patrol ship.

The Oita Coast Guard reported that the No. 5 Soya Maru is drifting with its stern sunken and its now above water (pictured above). The ship was carrying cement ingredients from Himeji, Hyogo Profecture to Kanda in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Dozens Injured in Staten Island Ferry Crash

On Saturday the ANDREW J. BARBERI a Staten Island ferry crashed into the pier. Three dozen people were injured and 4 were admitted to the hospital. Officials believe that a mechanical malfunction caused the accident, an investigation is being conducted.

The alarms that are to sound when the engines fail never sounded and when the crew realized the engines weren’t operating they followed the proper procedures. The crew tried to use the propulsion system to stop the ferry while other crew members warned passengers to brace for impact.


The crew passed a test for the possible influence of alcohol, and the drug tests are pending. Investigators are reviewing footage from cameras onboard the ferry and from the pier. NTSB has a team in place who will gather information over the next week and will meet with the manufacturer of the propulsion system.