When a quarter of a mile is too close

The AIS track for the Moonlight Venture after she left Falmouth and passed south of Start Point near to where the Amber J was fishing.

At 213m in length, coming within 400m of another much smaller vessel is close enough.

Photo courtesy of Tyrone Entwistle.

Information courtesy of VesselTracker news:

Near miss being investigated by MAIB

 The "Amber J" was in a near-miss incident with the Hongkong flagged tanker "Moonlight Venture" on Mar 24, 2012 at 8.10 p.m. The five crew on board the "Amber J - BM224" were in the collision danger zone when the tanker allegedly ignored all emergency calls from concerned the skipper and forced the fishing vessel to change course. The tanker came to within a quarter of a mile of the beam trawler. The skipper was very concerned but the tanker just ploughed on. An investigation has now been launched into the incident which happened 24 miles south west of Start Point. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch in Southampton has been informed of the incident by coastguards in Brixham. The "Moonlight Venture" with 35,711 tonnes of crude oil on board, was en route from New Orleans to Rotterdam via Falmouth where it anchored on March 25. The ship allegedly ignored calls on the sea communication and distress Channel 16.