MSC ANSHIKA VI e MARUS - Very serious maritime casualty
Vessel: MSC ANSHIKA VI e MARUS
GAMA reference: 2025-145
Data da ocorrência acidental: 24-04-2025
Circulated on: 15-07-2026
Published on: 17-08-2026
Summary
On 24 April 2025, approximately one nautical mile east of the United Kingdom territorial sea limit in the approaches to the Thames Estuary, the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC ANSHIKA VI was intentionally drifting while awaiting pilotage and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged container ship MARUS was proceeding from Tilbury to Rotterdam. At approximately 23:10 UTC, the bow of MARUS struck the starboard quarter of MSC ANSHIKA VI. MSC ANSHIKA VI sustained hull damage and water ingress into cargo hold No. 6, while MARUS sustained damage to her bow and bulbous bow. No injuries, fatalities or pollution were reported. Both vessels subsequently proceeded to their respective ports of destination.
Safety recommendations
• 2025-145 - SR 01
To Antigua & Barbuda maritime administration
It is recommended that the Antigua and Barbuda Maritime Administration assess the effectiveness of the Company's arrangements for casualty reporting, information sharing, internal investigation and organisational learning following marine casualties, and determine whether any corrective or oversight actions are necessary to ensure compliance with the objectives of the ISM Code. Response received: No. At the date of publication of this report, no response had been received from the Antigua and Barbuda Maritime Administration.
• 2025-145 - SR 02
To Portuguese Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM)
Assess whether existing AIS navigational-status categories, associated guidance and operational practices adequately support a common understanding of the navigational condition of vessels intentionally drifting whilst awaiting pilotage or port entry, and determine whether any safety improvements should be considered. Response received: Yes. The Portuguese Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM) acknowledged the recommendation and advised that the matters identified by the investigation would be reviewed and considered within the scope of its responsibilities.
• 2025-145 - SR 03
To ISM Company of MSC ANSHIKA VI MSC SHIPMANAGEMENT LIMITED
Assess the effectiveness of bridge procedures and watchkeeping arrangements applicable to vessels intentionally drifting whilst awaiting pilotage and determine whether additional measures are necessary to support the timely recognition and reassessment of collision risk. Response received: No. At the date of publication of this report, no response had been received from MSC Shipmanagement Limited.
• 2025-145 - SR 04
To ISM Company of MARUS Assess the effectiveness of bridge procedures and watchkeeping arrangements applicable to collision-risk assessment and monitoring during encounters with vessels intentionally drifting whilst awaiting pilotage and determine whether additional measures are necessary to support the timely recognition and reassessment of collision risk. Response received: No. At the date of publication of this report, no response had been received from TS-Shipping GmbH & Co. KG.
• 2025-145 - SR 05
To the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Assess whether any lessons arising from this occurrence should be considered within ongoing reviews of vessel traffic management and navigational risk in the approaches to the Thames Estuary. Response received: Yes. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) advised that, in addition to an ongoing review of routing arrangements in UK waters, a Vessel Traffic Management assessment of the south-east coastal area, including the approaches to the Thames Estuary, would be undertaken in order to evaluate existing arrangements and identify any additional measures considered necessary
• 2025-145 - SR 06
To ISM company of Mv MSC ANSHIKA MSC SHIPMANAGEMENT LIMITED
A technical issue was identified regarding the VDR configuration - the vdrinfo.dat file does not appear to contain the necessary configuration information for the engine telegraph and the VDR replay conning display does not give engine telegraph position. The engine-telegraph position may not have been correctly recorded. The Management Company should verify that the engine-order and response signals are configured and recorded in accordance with IMO Resolution A.861(20). Response received: No. At the date of publication of this report, no response had been received from MSC Shipmanagement Limited
Lessons learned
The availability of radar, AIS, ECDIS visual information does not by itself ensure timely recognition of collision risk bridge teams must continuously monitorreassess developing encounters initial assumptions about CPApassing arrangements should be actively challenged AIS navigational status may not fully communicate the operational condition of a vessel intentionally drifting effective learning also depends on the timely preservationsharing of casualty evidence.