Ferry Officer Jailed for Fatal Collision

A ship's officer, Lewis Carr, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for his role in a fatal ferry collision. Carr was in charge of the Commodore Goodwill when it collided with the trawler L'Ecume II west of Jersey in December 2022. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of three fishermen: Michael Michieli, Larry Simyunn, and Jervis Baligat.

Carr was found guilty of breaching Jersey's shipping law, though jurors could not reach a verdict on gross negligence manslaughter charges. The Royal Court heard that the ferry was behind schedule, and Carr ignored collision warnings on radar approximately ten minutes before the crash. Prosecutors highlighted multiple failings, including poor communication with a lookout and inadequate use of available radar technology, demonstrating safety was not paramount.

The defense argued for leniency, suggesting some responsibility lay with the fishing vessel's crew. However, the court considered Carr's actions, including his distraction by non-urgent tasks and failure to properly address collision risks, as contributing factors to the fatalities. The sentence reflects the severe consequences of his breaches of duty.