Poor training, navigational deficiencies led to fatal fishing boat collision in Cabo Verde

A transport accident investigation body in Cabo Verde has concluded that inadequate crew training and a number of navigation-related deficiencies led to a collision between two fishing vessels and the death of a crewmember on one of the vessels in the island country’s waters earlier this year.

The incident occurred on February 7 when the fishing vessels Ponta de Peça and Djesone collided in the channel between São Vicente and Santo Antão islands, the Cabo Verde Institute for the Prevention and Investigation of Aeronautical and Maritime Accidents (IPIAAM) said in a statement on Tuesday, August 2.

The institute said the impact resulted in “considerable damage” and the death of a 33-year-old crewmember on Djesone.

The collision was caused by determining factors including failure to “failure to establish the navigation beacons, the command of the manoeuvre by a crewmember without any type of training in navigation, and the failure to monitor the navigational situation by the master of the vessel, using radar and visual pointers,” the report concluded.

The IPIAAM added that it has since issued safety recommendations to relevant institutions to ensure compliance with procedures, promote occupational safety, and prevent the occurrence of similar accidents in the country’s fisheries sector.