Fatigue from pre-joining travel cited in tanker collision probe

A tanker officer who had only two hours of rest in 38.5 hours before a collision due to travel time was on his first watch when the crash occurred, investigators say.

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A collision between Tanker A and the anchored vessel Target 46 on July 24, 2026, was likely caused by fatigue from travel time before the officer of the watch (OOW) joined the ship, according to investigators. The OOW had boarded the vessel the day before the collision and was on his first watch when the incident occurred at approximately 0602.

The OOW had only about two hours of rest in the 38.5 hours before the collision, largely because of travel to the ship. Investigators say this fatigue likely reduced his performance and judgment.

At the time of the collision, Tanker A was making 14 knots. The impact caused a fire on both vessels and partially detached the bridge of Tanker A. All 22 crew members of Tanker A were rescued, but one shore worker on Target 46 died.

Target 46, which was anchored, attempted to warn Tanker A using an ALDIS lamp and sound signals, but these proved ineffective. The VHF radio was not used despite the escalating risk. The OOW also repeatedly left the bridge to attend to administrative duties while navigating at night in a busy waterway.

The case highlights the need to count travel time as work time when calculating rest periods for seafarers, the investigation concluded.