Collision between Bulk Carrier CONTI PERIDOT and Tanker CARLA MAERSK

This two-dimensional animation depicts the sequence of events in which the bulk carrier Conti Peridot collided with the tanker Carla Maersk. The accident occurred at 12:30 Central Daylight Time (CDT) on March 9, 2015 in the Houston Ship Channel, upper Galveston Bay, Texas.
Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) data from the Conti Peridot and the Carla Maersk, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data recorded for the Stolt Span, Karoline N, Gaia Leader and the towboat Lincoln L were used to determine the positions and headings of the vessels involved.
A sequence of two-dimensional still-image map graphics are used to provide an overview of the circumstances of the accident and vessel positions as the time advanced. First, the position of Conti Peridot, Carla Maersk, Stolt Span, Karoline N, Gaia Leader, and towboat Lincoln L are illustrated beginning at approximately 11:00 CDT in an overall map of the area of the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, Texas. The ships are shown 5 times actual size for visibility, and highlighted with white squares for the accident ships and white circles for the other ships. Scaled diagrams showing the relative size of the 623-foot-long bulk carrier Conti Peridot and the 600-foot-long tanker Carla Maersk are shown. The next image shows moving red arrows to indicate the paths of both accident vessels up to the point of collision noted by a red star.
The screen is divided vertically; the left side shows the positions of the vessels during the transit in the area map. The upper right hand side of the screen shows an inset with a closer view of the Conti Peridot and a white line indicating the track following the vessel. The track was generated by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data recorded on the VDR. Rudder angle, heading and speed from the VDR of the Conti Peridot are displayed next to the inset. Selected comments of Bridge Audio of the Conti Peridot and Ship-to-Ship VHF Communications from the VDR are displayed on the lower right as text at the time they occurred. The local time is shown at the top of the screen. The still images are followed by a continuous animation of the vessels. The speed of the animation varies and is noted below the local time window.
Beginning at 11:25 CDT, the motion of the vessels involved is shown in a continuous animation playing twenty times faster than actual speed. After passing Karoline N at 11:35, and Stolt Span at 11:39, Conti Peridot continued up the channel past the turn at Bayport onto the final leg of the channel. After passing the Gaia Leader at 12:24, the Conti Peridot radioed the Carla Maersk and agreed to a port to port passing. From this point, the motions of the vessels are played four times faster than actual speed to the time of collision at 12:30. The animation is then followed by a photograph looking forward along the Carla Maersk to the location where the port bow of the Conti Peridot struck the port side of the Carla Maersk.
Weather and visibility conditions at the time of the accident are not shown. This animation contains audio narration.