The Ouro Fino - Q.B.D. (Adm.Ct.) (Sheen J. with Assessors) - 23 June 1986

Collision action - River Schelde

The plaintiffs’ motor vessel Rimac collided with the defendants’ barge BGL-2 in January 1979 in the mouth of the river Schelde about two miles from Flushing. Rimac , 10,560 g.r.t., was outward bound from Antwerp. BGL-2 , 11,877 g.r.t. was a steel dumb barge 152 metres in length and 36 metres in beam. She was lying on an easterly heading to her port anchor with five shackles of cable in the water. The barge was in the care of the tug Ouro Fino , a twin screw motor tug of 877 g.r.t. Ouro Fino was moored alongside BGL-2 with her port side to the port side of the barge in a position near her forward end. Ouro Fino was displaying one white all-round light on the masthead and deck working lights. BGL-2 was exhibiting a stern light which on the ebb tide was not visible to a ship approaching from the East. Rimac was proceeding down the channel when she collided with the barge.