Brazilian Navy Investigates Collision Between Containership and Ferries in Port of Santos

Brazil’s Port Captaincy in São Paulo has launched an administrative inquiry to determine the causes and responsibilities behind a collision between the Singapore-flagged containership Seaspan Empire and two ferries operating the Santos–Guarujá crossing on Monday night (16).

Speaking to local broadcaster TV Tribuna on Tuesday (17), São Paulo Ports Captain, Navy Captain Leandro Gomes Mendes, said authorities must await the outcome of the investigation to establish what triggered the incident in the Santos navigation channel.

“The inquiry will determine exactly what happened. We need to examine witness testimony, technical evidence and documentation to verify whether the vessels were operating under proper conditions and whether all regulations were followed. Focusing on only one of these factors could cause us to overlook others,” Mendes said.

“Despite public anxiety for answers, the investigation will clarify whether there was any misconduct or mechanical failure. The inquiry has been underway since the accident was reported,” he added.

The Brazilian Navy underscored the importance of prudent vessel navigation and proper maintenance of safety equipment.

What Happened

The Seaspan Empire struck two ferries crossing the navigation channel at around 10 p.m. on Monday. No injuries were reported. Video footage obtained by local media shows ferries FB-14 and FB-15 positioned along the containership’s intended route.

As the 366-meter vessel advanced, the ferries remained ahead of it. The containership collided with one of them and pushed it for several meters. Crew members aboard the ferries jumped into the water.

Pilots’ Account

In a statement, the local pilots’ association said the ferries were navigating on reciprocal headings and that contact occurred as the vessel passed Warehouse 35. According to the pilots, one ferry — along with another under maintenance and being towed — inadvertently crossed in front of the containership.

All four crew members — the captain and three sailors — jumped into the water and were rescued by pilot boats without injuries. The ferries were not carrying vehicles or passengers at the time.

Port Authority

In a video statement, Santos Port Authority (APS) CEO Anderson Pomini said the incident highlights the need for the long-planned Santos–Guarujá tunnel.

“It is not reasonable for a global-scale logistics route to continue being shared in this way. The Santos–Guarujá tunnel is a structural safety measure for navigation, for protecting lives and for improving operational efficiency. Separating port traffic from urban traffic is a technical, modern and absolutely necessary decision,” he said.

APS said the Seaspan Empire proceeded to anchorage and later berthed at the DP World terminal. Port navigation was not suspended.

State Authorities

São Paulo’s Secretariat for Environment, Infrastructure and Logistics (Semil) confirmed that the ferries were out of service at the time and occupied only by crew members, with no vehicles or passengers onboard.

The agency said there were no injuries and only material damage. The vessels remain out of service on the Santos side pending a determination from the Port Authority. The Santos–Guarujá crossing continues to operate normally with the remaining ferries in the fleet.

According to the secretariat, the state’s ferry authority is cooperating with maritime authorities in the investigation.

Source: A Tribuna

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