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Skippers of both ships fined after collision on New Maas

The Rotterdam District Court has ruled that both skippers acted culpably, albeit to varying degrees, when the Spido tour boat 'Marco Polo' and the water taxi 'MSTX 21' were in collision on the New Maas on July 21, 2022. The lives of all passengers were in danger. Both boats were sailing approximately parallel to each other, with the tour boat heading towards the Noordeiland and the water taxi suddenly changed course towards the Leuve Port. The court ruled that the water taxi skipper failed to look out sufficiently and sailed on the wrong side of the waterway. He also failed to provide a necessary message via radio and failed to give way to the 'Marco Polo'. The court found that the skipper's actions were so careless that he could be accused of a crime: guilt for the accident of a vessel (Article 169 of the Criminal Code). The court also found that he did not adhere to the navigation regulations to prevent a collision. For his actions, the skipper of the water taxi was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, half of which is conditional, with a probationary period of one year. The court stated that the suspect did not have to take into account the sudden change of course of the water taxi that was sailing full throttle towards the Leuve Port. However, the skipper should have reported his departure from the jetty via the marine radio on VHF channel 81. According to the skipper, he was not obliged to do so because sailing away is not a special manoeuvre, but the court saw it differently. Reporting a departure is always mandatory and not only intended for the safety of the skipper, his boat and the passengers, but also for other shipping traffic, which thereby knows what the intentions are of his ship. Moreover, the part of the News Maas where the collision took place is also heavily used by freight traffic and pleasure yachts. Nevertheless, the court did not find that the skipper sailed so carelessly or attentively that the crime of guilt for the accident of a vessel has been proven. He has been acquitted of this. However, the skipper did not take all precautions, which meant that was is in violation of the Inland Navigation Police Regulations, and has to pay a fine of 500 euros.

Public Prosecution Service demanded community service for the skippers of tour boat and water taxi

On Feb 10, the Public Prosecution Service demanded community service for the skippers of the 'Marco Polo' and 'MSTX 21', who were involved in the serious collision between the tour boat and the water taxi on the New Maas in Rotterdam. The Public Prosecution Service believes that both men should have prevented the accident. A community service order of 150 hours and a fine of 1000 euros have been demanded for the 75-year-old skipper of the water taxi. A community service order of 120 hours and a fine of 1000 euros have been demanded for the 51-year-old skipper of the tour boat. The Public Prosecution Service believes that both skippers made mistakes. They should have used their radio and kept a better lookout. They should also have used AIS. According to the prosecutors, their negligence endangered the lives of the occupants of the water taxi. They are convinced that the skippers did not deliberately cause the accident, but they do feel that the collision was their fault. Both could have prevented this, being very experienced and professional.

Skippers on trial 2,5 years after collision

The court in Rotterdam showed images of the collision between the water taxi 'MSTX 21' and the 'Marco Polo' on the New Maas near the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam on July 21, 2022, on the morning of Feb 10, 2025. The skippers of both boats were on trial in the case. The water taxi had sunk in the incident, and six people ended up in the water, among them the captain, four adult passengers and a child. The adult victims were attending the trial. The first images shown in court were taken by the cameras on the sides of the 'Marco Polo'. They clearly showed how the water taxi ended up under the bow of the tour boat upside down. The court also showed images of the collision from the roof of the KPN building. The skipper Menno V. (51) of the tour boat called the images of the collision very impressive. He said that the water taxi emerged from a blind spot on the starboard side and that he immediately pressed the emergency stop after the collision. Skipper Willem de J. (75) of the water taxi said after seeing the images: ‘I find it incomprehensible that this happened. I should have looked, that’s for sure.’ After the collision, he stopped sailing on the water taxi. The water taxi was sailing at 20 kilometres per hour, the departing tour boat was sailing at approximately 18 kilometres per hour. V. had not used the VHF at the start of the tour and, according to him, was not obliged to do so on days when the water is quiet. He wondered whether a report would have been useful. At the end of January the State Port Master René de Vries had announced that a maximum speed limit would be set around the Erasmus Bridge. The maximum speed limit will be set at 20 kilometres per hour. The measures are expected to come into effect in the course of the year after several incidents around the Erasmus Bridge, including this collision.