Master Faces Criminal Charges for Drifting into Bulker

The master of the bulker HL Eco has been criminally charged in Australia for a COLREGs violation after his vessel lost power and collided with an anchored bulker. The incident occurred on July 16 off the Hay Point terminal, causing extensive damage. This marks the first time such a case has been brought in Australia. The marine casualty investigation to determine the cause of the collision is ongoing. HL Eco suffered a propulsion casualty while preparing to anchor, leading to the collision with the anchored ship YM Serenity.

Captain Jim Woo Jun of HL Eco has been charged with a violation of Marine Order 30, the Australian implementation of international collision prevention rules (COLREGs). He was briefly held in custody until posting bail of US$20,000 and is expected to return to South Korea once released. The offense charged against Capt. Jun has never been previously brought in Australia. If convicted, the maximum penalty could be a fine of US$26,000. The prosecutor, Sam Lanskey, has successfully handled similar cases in the past, resulting in convictions and fines.

There is a growing trend of criminalization of maritime accidents, raising concerns among seafarer advocates. They argue that seeking redress through civil suits against shipowners or administrative action by the flag state would be more appropriate than criminal charges against mariners. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is currently developing guidelines to assist prosecutors in investigating and charging foreign seafarers for maritime offenses. This trend is causing more seafarers to turn away from the industry, adding to the challenge of attracting new recruits.

Source .