Large ship proximity alleged to have upset L'Ecume II captain, court testimony reveals

In the ongoing trial, the jury is scheduled to deliberate for four weeks as the case unfolds. The focus of the trial is on the tragic collision between the fishing vessel L'Ecume II and the Commodore Goodwill, which occurred on 8 December 2022, approximately four nautical miles from St Ouen’s Bay, Jersey.

The skipper of L'Ecume II, Michael Michieli, was a well-experienced fisherman and a passionate industry professional, as described by his wife, Clare Michieli. Tragedy struck when she received a phone call at 6.30am informing her that "something had happened to Michael... there is lots of debris". Three crew members of L'Ecume II, Larry Ladion Simyunn, Jervis Ramirez Baligat, and Michael Michieli, lost their lives in the collision.

Advocate Simon Thomas and Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit have been questioning the actions leading up to the collision. Thomas asked Michael Nuth, a witness, if Michieli had asked why he kept his lights on, implying it might be against regulations. Nuth responded that it might not be allowed, but questioned the definition of "fishing". Michieli kept his fishing lights on at all times while at sea, even when not fishing, to increase visibility.

Michieli had expressed concerns about large vessels, including the Commodore Goodwill and Commodore Clipper, coming too close to him during conversations. The captain of the Commodore Goodwill at the time of the collision was Captain Radoslaw Zelazny. L'Ecume II was described as "immaculate" by Captain David Nuth, a professional acquaintance and friend of Michael Michieli, the last time he saw it "a couple of days before" the collision.

Crown Advocate Maletroit mentioned the possibility that L'Ecume II had her fishing lights on during the collision, affecting who had to give way. Even if the Commodore Goodwill was the stand-on vessel, it still had an obligation to take necessary action to avoid a collision, according to Maletroit.

The trial for Commodore Goodwill crew members Artur Sevash-Zade (35) and Lewis Carr (30) is ongoing, presided over by Commissioner Sir John Saunders. The trial aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident and bring closure to the families of the victims.

Large ship proximity alleged to have upset L'Ecume II captain, court testimony reveals