Investigation number
12
Occurrence date
Location
Nowra
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Occurrence category
Incident
Highest injury level
None

Outline of incident

On the evening of 16 December 1985, Lysaght Endeavour was proceeding northwards, in ballast, along the southern NSW coast. Shortly before 2200, the Watch Officer saw a single, small white light one point to port & the lookout reported the light shortly afterwards. No target was depicted on the radar screen & as the light remained on a steady bearing, the officer assumed that he was overtaking a small vessel, which was on a converging course. He therefore made a broad alteration to port, then gradually came back to the original course, keeping the other vessel fine to starboard. The white light suddenly disappeared under the starboard bow & Lysaght Endeavour collided with the fibreglass yacht Grunter, which was sailing on a southerly heading & stated to be displaying a tricoloured lantern at the masthead.

Grunter suffered only minor damage & was able to proceed to port unassisted.

The red section of Grunter's tricoloured lantern was found to have degraded to such an extent that it showed a white light. However, doubt was raised as to whether the bulb in the red section was working & that in fact the yacht was displaying the all-round white anchor light.

Conclusions

Grunter was not showing the correct navigation lights, in that it was not displaying a red port sidelight.

Although there was one on board, Grunter did not carry a radar reflector in a prominent position, to enhance detection by radar.

The Watch Officer aboard Lysaght Endeavour misjudged the distance of the white light & resumed the original course too soon.

Vessel Details
Departure point
Fremantle, WA
Destination
Port Kembla, NSW
Vessel name
Lysaght Endeavour D35561
Flag
Australia
IMO
N/A
Damage
Nil
Marine occurrence type
Collision
Departure time
N/A
Marine Operation Type
Roll on-roll off cargo
Vessel Details
Departure point
N/A
Destination
Botany Bay
Vessel name
Grunter
Flag
N/A
IMO
N/A
Damage
Minor
Marine occurrence type
Collision
Departure time
N/A
Marine Operation Type
Saling vessel