Phone Distraction Linked to Fatal Collision on Houston Ship Channel
A personal phone call by a ship pilot contributed to a fatal collision on the Houston Ship Channel, according to a new report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The Maritime Executive reports that the bulk carrier Yangze 7 struck the towboat Miss Peggy on July 19, 2024, killing one crew member and injuring two others.
The NTSB identified a failure to maintain a proper lookout by both vessels' bridge teams as the root cause. The agency also found that the Yangze 7 pilot was using his phone for a conversation unrelated to vessel operations while navigating.
The officer of the watch saw the pilot watching a video unrelated to his work. The pilot later made a phone call to another Houston pilot who was operating the tanker Petrel. He continued the conversation with a Bluetooth earpiece while giving navigation orders.
As Yangze 7 approached Miss Peggy from behind, the towboat's master was not aware of the approaching bulk carrier. An off-duty deckhand noticed the danger, and the bosun on Yangze 7 also spotted the towboat shortly before the collision.
A nearby harbor tug warned Yangze 7 over VHF to watch out for the towboat. At about 1403:35, the bulk carrier's bow struck Miss Peggy's stern. The towboat quickly rolled onto its side and began taking on water.
One crew member could not escape from the galley and died. Two others were injured. A nearby tug, George M, rescued the four surviving crew members.
The NTSB also criticized the Yangze 7 bridge team for not maintaining situational awareness and communicating their concerns about the pilot. The master of Miss Peggy was also faulted for not using all available means to detect the approaching vessel.
The investigation highlighted wider concerns about personal phone use by pilots on the Houston Ship Channel. NTSB found that such use had become normalized and was allowed by the local pilot association.
After the accident, the Houston Pilots introduced rules limiting personal phone use while on watch. Pilots can use phones for vessel safety and essential professional communications, but should avoid unrelated personal calls.
