Final report of investigation of very serious marine casualty – a collision of m/v „Lady Gul” with m/v „St. Catrien”, on 07.03.2013

On 07.03.2013, about 9 miles SSW of Cape Kaliakra the general cargo ship m/v "Lady Gul", flying the flag of Panama, collided with the general cargo ship m/v "St. Catrien", flying the flag of Union of Comoros. This area falls within the territorial sea of the Republic of Bulgaria. After examining the facts reported by MRCC-Varna, the Maritime Accident Investigation Unit classified the accident as a "serious casualty" in accordance with the circular letter MSC-MEPC.3/Circ.3 of 18.12.2008, a collision led to serious structural damage -  hull bending of the  m/v "St. Catrien".

On 06.01.2014 the vessel owners of m/v "St. Catrien", Sudoservice Shipping Consultancy and Trading Ltd. - Istanbul, Turkey, which was at the same time the vessel’s ISM Manager and operator responded to the request of the MAIU explaining that as a result of the damages sustained on 19.04.2013 the m/v "St. Catrien" had been declared a constructive total loss and on 10.14.2013 she was deleted from the Union of Comoros ship registry. According to current regulations (IMO resolution MSC.255 (84), Directive 2009/18/EC of the European Parliament and the Council, Ordinance № 23 on reporting and investigation of marine causalities of MTITC from 24.10.2011) the accident was to be considered as very serious casualty - a total loss.