
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, July 10, 1990                   TAG: 9007100300
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

CAPTAIN CONFIRMED COURSE BEFORE COLLISION

The captain of a German-flagged container ship Monday confirmed the course set by his pilot moments before the Columbus America and the Neptune Jade collide in the Chesapeake Bay.

Capt. Klaus-Peter Dembeck, captain of the Columbus America, verified his ship's position moments before the collision by a bearing taken by radar. Moments after the collision, Dembeck said he took a similar position fix that placed the outbound Columbus America on the proper side of the channel.

Earlier, the captain of the Neptune Jade confirmed his pilot's position, which would have put the inbound ship on its proper side of the 1,800-foot-wide channel.

A joint U.S. Coast Guard-National Transportation Safety Board panel has been hearing testimony from the crews and pilots involved in the July 1 accident since last Tuesday. The panel hopes to conclude testimony by Wednesday. A final report is expected within six months.

- Associated Press

by CNB