A general cargo ship was sailing in ballast and had passed through Dover Strait in the south-west traffic lane. The weather had deteriorated significantly with the approach of a strong storm, and the south-westerly wind and tidal stream substantially reduced the ship’s progress. The Master attempted to counter the effects of the weather by increasing main engine speed, but this resulted in the ship pitching heavily.
The pitching, coupled with the ballast condition, allowed the propeller to come...