Ferry collision in Rosslare Harbour could have had ‘serious consequences’

A collision in windy conditions involving two passenger ferries in Rosslare harbour, Co Wexford, last year could have had “serious consequences” if the ships’ masters had not acted quickly, according to the official investigation.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has recommended that Rosslare Harbour further develops operational limits for exceptionally bad weather situations to ensure there is no recurrence. There were no injuries and no serious damage occurred when the MV Stena Europe lost control and hit the MV Oscar Wilde while berthing at Rosslare harbour on October 26th, 2012.

The MV Oscar Wilde owned by Irish Ferries was already alongside the quay, and the MV Stena Europe owned by Stena Line was berthing, when average wind speed increased to 36 knots with gusts of up to 45 knots.

There were 383 passengers and 71 crew on board the 149-metre long MV Stena Europe and no passengers at the time on board the 166 metre-long MV Oscar Wilde, but there were two oil tankers delivering fuel for the latter ship.

'Fortuitous'
The reports notes that it was "fortuitous" that the master of the MV Oscar Wilde had gone on the bridge to observe the MV Stena Europe's berthing, even though it is not normal practice to do so.

The report notes that the actions of both masters helped to avert a serious impact, which could have had "serious consequences", as the MV Oscar Wilde had two road tankers delivering bunkers on the starboard side of the main car deck.

When the MV Stena Europe began to drift away from the berth, the mate/master "did everything possible to bring the vessel under control" and lessened the impact with the MV Oscar Wilde by lowering the anchor and slowing the rate of drift, the report notes.