The two boats that collided with each other with fatal consequences near Terschelling in October were going too fast. This is the conclusion of the Dutch Safety Board research report published on Wednesday. At least three, and most likely four, people were killed in the accident — a twelve-year-old boy from Sexbierum is still missing.
The accident took place on the early Friday morning of October 21, in the Schuitengat on the Wadden Sea between Harlingen and Terschelling. A Tiger fast boat from the Doeksen shipping company collided with an eleven-metre long water taxi, a so-called Stormloper.
According to the Dutch Safety Board, both the water taxi and the fast boat were sailing too fast. The researchers even write about the fast boat, which sails between Terschelling and Harlingen, that it went more than twice too fast: 55 kilometers per hour instead of the limit of 20 kilometers per hour. Those involved knew about the speed limit.
Speed enforcement had no effect
Speeding violations were common in that period, the Dutch Safety Board writes. But Rijkswaterstaat’s enforcement did not have the desired effect. As soon as the crews of water taxis, ferries and fast boats see a patrol ship approaching, they still have enough time to slow down. Privacy legislation does not allow Rijkswaterstaat to use radar information for enforcement.
There was also a lack of clear communication between crew members, and they did not adhere to the sailing rules. When the boats came into sight of each other, there was “initially no danger of collision,” reads the investigation report. But “just before the two vessels were to pass each other and after the VHF radio contact, the skipper of the water taxi suddenly swerved to starboard and a collision was inevitable.”
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