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Report: Pilot of bulk carrier was distracted by phone call ahead of fatal collision
The National Transportation Safety Board published its investigation report into the collision of the 'Yangze 7' with the tug 'Miss Peggy' (MMSI: 366935050) in the Houston Ship Channel on July 19, 2024, near Lynchburg, Texas, which caused the tug to capsize and sink with five crew members aboard. Four of them were rescued by a nearby vessel, while the 5th was later found dead inside the wreck. One crew member suffered serious injuries, another minor injuries. An undetermined amount of oil was released into the waterway. Damage and cleanup costs totaled an estimated $3.7 million. The 'Yangze' 7 escaped without damage. The NTSB found that the Houston pilot directing the bulk carrier had been engaged in a non-operational phone call with another pilot for 39 minutes, leading up to the accident. Although the call ended just over two minutes before the impact, it distracted the pilot long enough for him to lose awareness of the tug sailing ahead. The investigation also found that the 'Yangze 7‘s bridge team failed to intervene despite recognising the pilot was engaged in personal conversations, reflecting ineffective bridge resource management. At least one officer told the investigators that he had been very afraid because the pilot was chatting through a Bluetooth earpiece while issuing helm orders, and that the conversation had nothing to do with navigation or vessel operations. The captain of the 'Miss Peggy' likewise failed to maintain a proper lookout and did not detect the bulk carrier approaching from astern. Meanwhile, the 'Yangze 7' bridge team did not spot the tug until it was less than a ship’s length ahead. The NTSB concluded that all three parties, the pilot, the ship’s bridge team, and the tug captain, had lost situational awareness because they failed to keep a proper lookout. According to the investigation, the Houston Pilots had no policy at the time prohibiting pilots from using personal electronic devices for non-operational purposes, while directing vessels. The investigators said that the absence of a policy likely normalised the practice, increasing safety risks for vessels and crews. The NTSB has recommended that the U.S. Coast Guard to prohibit the non-operational use of personal electronic devices by anyone directing vessel movements in U.S. waterways. It also called on the American Pilots’ Association to develop guidance banning such use by pilots actively navigating vessels and encourage member associations to adopt similar rules. The report highlighted a broader pattern of distraction-related marine casualties. According to the NTSB, personal electronic device distraction was identified as either a contributing factor or the probable cause in at least 10 marine accidents between 2009 and 2024, resulting in three deaths and 45 injuries. Reports with photos: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA24FM051.aspx https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260806.aspx
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