Collision of L'Ecume II led to man's demise, five minutes passed before distress signal was given, court testifies

In the early hours of the morning on a fateful day, a collision occurred between the Commodore Goodwill and the L'Ecume II, two vessels navigating the English Channel.

The events leading up to the collision began at 4:15am, when the L'Ecume II left St Helier, potentially bound for Long Banks. Meanwhile, the Commodore Goodwill, which had a 36-minute delay from its scheduled departure from St Peter Port, was making its way through the channel.

At around 5:21am, the L'Ecume II's crew sent their last known communication. Shortly after, at approximately 5:22-5:24, the Commodore Goodwill made a 7-degree starboard turn, setting it on a collision course with the L'Ecume II.

The collision occurred at 5:35, about four nautical miles from St Ouen's Bay. The impact was significant, and it was Second Officer William Hibbs who was awakened by a loud bang and a screeching sound. Kostyantyn Zhyglov, the Goodwill's bosun, heard five short blasts before the collision and found Mr Carr standing on the deck after the collision.

The horn on the Goodwill was blasted eight times between 5:34 and 5:35, a distress signal that would soon be answered by the Coastguard. However, it was not until 5:39 that Mr Carr made the call, the delay attributed to surprise and shock.

The aftermath of the collision was devastating. The collision resulted in the death of Michael Michieli (62), Larry Simyunn (33), and Jervis Baligat (31), all crew members of the L'Ecume II.

In the search and rescue efforts that followed, Kostyantyn Zhyglov assisted, helping to check the Goodwill for any signs of damage. Unfortunately, there is no information available about the captain of the Commodore Goodwill at this time.

As for the L'Ecume II, it had been visible to both vessels by sight at 5:15am. The boat appeared on the S-band radar at 5:14am. However, despite the efforts of the Coastguard, no further communication was received from the L'Ecume II's crew after their last text at 5:21am.

Artur Sevash-Zade, who joined the Goodwill as an able seaman in October 2022, was present during the collision. Kostyantyn Zhyglov had no problems with his performance.

In a tragic turn of events, Second Officer Lewis Carr, who was present on the deck at the time of the collision, had to make a man-overboard announcement "very quickly" after arriving at the scene.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can occur at sea and the importance of clear communication and vigilance in navigation. Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing.