Grounding and loss of feeder container vessel Cita with 1 person injured

Location: Off Newfoundland Point, Isles of Scilly.

• From: Marine Accident Investigation Branch
• Published: 23 January 2015

• Vessel type: Merchant vessel 100 gross tons or over
• Report type: Investigation report
• Date of occurrence: 26 March 1997

Accident Investigation Report 3/1998

Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, actions taken and recommendations:

MAIBReport_Cita-03-1998

Summary

Grounding of the feeder container ship Cita off Newfoundland Point, Isles of Scilly on 26 March 1997.

Safety Issues

• the officer of the watch onboard Cita selected a course to steer that would, unless subsequently changed, lead her to running aground on the Isles of Scilly
• the officer of the watch fell asleep after he had selected the course to steer
• The investigation also identified serious shortcomings with bridge manning at night, with the ship’s management and with the failure to have a working watch alarm switched on.

Recommendations

Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and also to The Receiver of Wreck.

This report was published on 20 October 1998.

Published 23 January 2015