Near Miss Crossing Fog

Twonearmisses
inPort
Approaches.

Nighttime.Visibility:05002miles/05201mile/
05400.6miles/06000.3miles
ReportNo.92008.

Vesselsinvolved:
A.mediumsizetankerinballast,atanchor.
B.Carcarrier,disembarkspilotat0530.
C.Coaster,nopilot,lookingforanchorage.
D.mediumsizetankerinballast,disembarkspilotat0535.
E.Largecarcarrier,pilotdisembarks0537,notmonitoringVHFCh.16orVTS
Channel.SetcourseparalleltoandonstarboardquarterofD.
F.Largeloadedorecarrier,restrictedentrytimeduetodraught,pilotonboard,not
makingway,waitingforDandEtoclear.
Events:
Dclearsportandsteamsaway.
BheadsforgapbetweenDandF.
FlosessightofCasvisibilitydecreases.
CheadstopassasternofF.
CtalkstoBonVTSworkingchannel.RadarechoofBisprobablyobscuredaboardC
byF,andCassumesthatEisB.TheonlyvesselnotcommunicatingonVHFisE.A
closeencounteroccursbetweenBandC.Bothgohardaport,andnarrowlyavoida
collision.Fswingsslowlytostarboardawayfromshallowwatertoseekanchorage.E
graduallyincreasesspeedandsuddenlyalterscourse70degreestoport.Feventually
findsEonVHFChannel9,EassuresFthateverythingisallrightandproceedsto
pass2.5cablesaheadofFat14knotsin3cablesvisibility.
Causes:Congestion,lackofdiscipline,assumption,Portradarnonoperational.