Marine Accident Investigation Branch; tanker; collision Home Publications Articles Use of VHF in collision avoidance Use of VHF in collision avoidance Publications Steamship Mutual Published: April 27, 2018 Contact author Download article pdf Image The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has  recently published the report of its investigation into the collision between the bulk carrier Huayang Endeavour and the tanker Seafrontier that occurred in the Dover Strait  on 1st July 2017. The circumstances of that collision highlight the risks that can arise through the use of VHF radio communications to determine collision avoidance action. In this case, the Huayang Endeavour was overtaking the Seafrontier on that vessel’s starboard side, and the two ships were on converging courses. The incident occurred in the hours of darkness , and about 12 minutes before the collision, when the vessels were about 1 nautical mile (nm) apart , the Master of the Huayang Endeavour ordered the second officer to contact the Seafrontier to ascertain that vessel’s intentions as the ARPA indicated a CPA of 0.3 nm. Once VHF contact was established and the 2/O of the Huayang Endeavour asked the Seafrontier’s intentions, the Master of the Seafrontier said that he should ask what the Huayang Endeavour’s intentions were as they were overtaking and not keeping clear. The Huayang Endeavour’s 2/O said they would overtake on the Seafrontier’s starboard side.  The Seafrontier’s Master said that the Huayang Endeavour should alter course to starboard. He added that since there was another vessel on his port side he was not able to alter his vessel’s heading much to port but could perhaps give the Huayang Endeavour a little more sea room by altering his heading 4-5 degrees to port. That message was acknowledged and the 2/O of the Huayang Endeavour reported to the Master, in Mandarin, his understanding of the call which had been conducted in English and not monitored by the Mast