Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman Closing Statement Marine Accident Report - Collision of Tankship Elka Apollon with Containership MSC Nederland Houston Ship Channel, Upper Galveston Bay, Texas - October 29, 2011 Washington, DC — September 25, 2012 (As Prepared for Delivery)

In closing, I want to thank my fellow Board members for their participation today. I also want to recognize the outstanding efforts of the NTSB staff members who completed this accident investigation and developed this thorough and excellent report, in particular, the staff from the Office of Marine Safety and from the Office of Research and Engineering. Investigator-in-Charge Brian Curtis and his team did an outstanding job.

Good seamanship starts in port, with detailed preparation and careful voyage planning but it also continues with handling your own vessel and anticipating how other vessels will react. In short, good seamanship and effective waterway management involves taking precautions and knowing where caution is needed — the point of the recommendations we are issuing today.

We stand adjourned.