LESSON SEVENTEEN
TEXT
ROUTINE SHIP’S CORRESPONDENCE CLAIMS IN CONNECTION WITH ACCIDENTS AND COLLISIONS
1. Letter claiming responsibility for damageto theship through collision
Esbjerg, 18 th March, 19 . .
To the Master
of the m/v “Bornholm,”
Port of Esbj erg.
Dear Sir,
To-day at 6,30 GMT while my ship, having a Pilot aboard, was following the icebreaker and proceeding slowly on account of heavy ice with engine working at full speed ahead, your ship that was right after us collided with my ship causing a big hole on my ship’s aft (poop), starboard side,
1 Make reserve for more damages which may arise on a more accurate inspection.
148
Under the circumstances Ihave to hold you responsible for the damage caused andkindly ask you to come personally to verify the scope of damage by yourself.
Yours faithfully,
5. N.Sidorov,
Master of them/v “Leningrad”
Letter to the Owners of the ship claiming their responsibilityfor the collision
Hamburg, 7thJuly, 19 .. .
To the Master and/or Owners of the m/v “Hercules,”
Port of Hamburg.
Dear Sir(s),
On the 6th inst., while proceeding toHamburg under Pilot’s direction we entered the area of dense fog and dropped anchor in position 53°51/N, 9°00'Eat 11.00 hours GMT,waiting for the visibility to improve. Immediately on anchoring we started to giveprescribed fog signals and set proper lookout.
At 12.34 GMTfog signals of a vessel under waywere heard from apparently forward of the beam. Toattract attention ofthe oncoming ship westarted to givesignals prescribed by theRegulations and showedflare-up light.
Notwithstanding those signals, the approachingvessel which proved tobe your ship, the “Hercules”, asit was foundlater, continued to progress andat 12.39 hours GMTstruck the starboardside of my tanker in wayof tank No. 3, causing a bighole andother damage described in detail inthe enclosed SurveyorReport.
Under the circumstances I have to hold youand your Owners responsible for the damage caused and the consequences which may arise therefrom, of which please.take due note.
Yours faithfully,
М. M. Mikhailov.
Master of the m/t “Molodechno”
Letter to the Harbour Authorities stating the data of the accident and claiming responsibility for the collision
Esbjerg, 18th March, 19 . . .
To the Harbour Master,
Port of Esbjerg. .
Dear Sir,
I wish to informyou that onMarch 17, 19 . .., at22.00 HRS GMT, at 7 milesWestward of Graadyb the Pilot, boardedmy vessel waiting for the icebreaker “Grand” which was busy at that lime taking out another ship.
On the 18th March, 19. . at 05.30 GMT we sailed to your port progressing in the following order:
The icebreaker “Grand,”
The m/v “Leningrad,”
The m/v “Bornholm.”
My vessel, the m/v “Leningrad”, was proceeding under Pilot’s direction, shifting ondifferent and various speeds and steaming ahead heavily through the ice.
At 06.30 HRS GMT, while the icebreaker was about500 metres ahead of us andwe were proceeding with the engine atfull speed ahead, the motorvessel “Bornholm,” which was at a very short distance from our aft, suddenly struck against my ship causing a big hole on ouraft (poop), starboard side.
The visibility was very good, my ship, the m/v “Leningrad”, was moving at thattime with the engine at full speed ahead, butproceeding very slowly owing to heavy ice.
The motorvessel “Bornholm” at the same time had mucheasier manoeuvring facilities either to stop or to go astern or, definitely much better, to keepherself away fromthe m/v “Leningrad” at a safe distance.
Therefore, the responsibility for the collision must be charged on the m/v“Bornholm” the Master whereofhas been duly notified by me.
Enclosed herewith please find four copies ofthe extracts from the Log-Book and four copies of the extracts from the Engine- Book.
Yours faithfully,
S. N. Sidorov Master of the m/v “Leningrad”
Enclosures: 8 copies.
Extracts from the Log-Book stating the data of the accident
Extracts from Log-Book No. 72 of the m/v “Leningrad,” sailing under the Soviet flag and owned by the Baltic Sea Shipping Company, Leningrad, L5S.S.R.
Page 117 March 17, 19. . .
22.00 GMT At anchorage close tothe edge of heavy ice. Embarked Pilot, Mr. W. J. Johnes of Esbjerg. Waiting for an icebreaker. Wind NE force 2. Temperature — 18°C.
Page
118 March
18, 19 .
05.25
GMT
05.27
GMT 150
Weighed anchor.
Left anchorage. Proceeding at slow ahead under Pilot’s direction. Master on the bridge in command. Following the icebreaker “Grand,” keeping at about500 metres distance from the icebreaker ahead ofus. Proceeding at half ahead, on variable courses. Progressing slowly because ofice, the m/v “Bornholm" following us at afairly short distance.
05.28
GMT 05.33 GMT
06.00
GMT
GMT
GMT
GMT
GMT
GMT
GMT
GMT
06.35 GMT
Passed Point Saat. Wind rose to force 3 NNE.Temp. —19°C.Observed a sudden andvery close approach of the m/v “Bornholm” to ourship’s stern. Sounded aseries of short blasts on the ship’swhistle.
Altered course toport to keep as close as possible to the edge of the ice channel.
Went full speed ahead to kick away the “Bornholm’s” bow by the propeller’s wake.
In spite ofmeasures taken could not avoid an impact. The m/v“Bornholm” struckwith her bow against our ship’s stern, onthe starboard side.
Stopped the engine. The m/v “Bornholm” passed by on our starboardside, bruising our ship’s plating. Backed herat slow astern.
Chief Mate together with Bos’un examined damage caused, reported to the bridge: ahole 1X1-5 metres in size above thewaterline, and a dent on the plating about 2metres long with a 5 cm. deflection.
No leaks detected in aft compartments. The ship continues to follow the icebreaker “Grand” at slow speedahead. Them/v “Bornholm” is proceeding behind us at 2 cables’ distance.
S. N. Sidorov Master of the m/v “Leningrad”
o. Extractfrom the Engine-Book stating the data of the accident
Extracts from Engine-Book No. 37 of them/v “Leningrad”, sailing under the Soviet flagand owned bythe Baltic Sea Shipping Company, Leningrad, U.S.S.K.
GMT
”
” 05,10 ”
"
”
”
” 05.32 ”
Get the engine ready. One hour notice.
Started oilpump.
Smarted fuel-oil delivery pump and air compressor. Theengine is ready.
Started the second diesel generator.
Fed power to windlass and fire-pump.
Stand by theengine. Started bothengines.
Slow ahead stbd andport engines.
Half speed ahead. Stbd and port engines.
GMT Full speed ahead. Stbdand port engines.
” Heard thesound of a heavy stroke coming from aft.
” Stop. Stoppedstbd. and portengines.
” Slow astern. Stbd and port engines.
” Stop theengine. Stoppedstbd and port engines.
” Slow ahead. Stbd and port engines.
F. V. Makarov Chief Engineer of the m/v “Leningrad”
Letter claiming indemnity for forced inactivity caused by the collision
Esbjerg, 21st March, 19. . .
To the Master ofthe m/v “Bornholm,”
Port of Esbjerg.
Dear Sir,
I wish to inform you that in connection with the damage caused by your ship on the 18th of March, 19 .. 1hereby claim
from your Company, besides the repairs, anindemnity for forced inactivity of my m/v, the “Leningrad”, up. to the completion of repairs, at the rate of£ 150.00 perday. .
Your faithfully,
N. Sidorov Master of the m/v “Leningrad”
Letter stating that the repairs have been completed to entire satisfaction
Esbjerg. March 29, 19 . . .
To the Owners of the m/v “Bornholm,”
Port of Esbjerg.
Dear Sirs,
I, the undersigned, Master ofthe m/v “Leningrad,” by thepresent state that the damage caused bythe m/v “Bornholm” on the18th of March, 19.. ., has been completely repaired to myentire satisfaction and that I haveno claim ofwhatsoever in respectto thequality ofrepairs.
Yours faithfully,
N. Sidorov Master of them/v “Leningrad”
Arbitration Agreement for Cases of Collision