Angela Yu/06 March 2015. The sinking of Taiwanese maritime research vessel Ocean Researcher V has been attributed chiefly to human error, according to a Maritime and Port Bureau report.

"Investigators found that the crew members did not follow correct procedures during the return voyage, which required the use of nautical charts to map the ship position, and they did not make full preparation for the possibility of a disaster," Chi Wen-chung, Maritime and Port Bureau director, told the media on 2 March. He added that adjustments to the ship's course were not made when it deviated off course, which led to the tragedy.

Chi said that most members of the Committee for Investigation of Marine Casualties agreed that human error was the main contributing factor to the disaster.

"Neither the captain nor the crew realized the ship went off course due to bad weather and failed to adjust course in time," said Chi. "If they had made the adjustments in time, the tragedy certainly would not have happened."

The 2,700 dwt Ocean Researcher V struck a reef in stormy weather and sank off the southwest coast of Taiwan on 10 October 2014, killing 2 out of 45 people on board the vessel.

The TWD1.46 billion (USD47.98 million) ship was operated by the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute with funding from the National Applied Research Laboratories.

 

Source: www.ihsmaritime360.com